CVE-2023-46747
CVE-2023-46747 is a security flaw in F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility, equipment big companies use to route traffic to their websites and apps. Attackers can run commands on F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 31 Oct 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. F5 has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an authentication bypass in F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility. In its words: “F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility contains an authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability due to undisclosed requests that may allow an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the BIG-IP system through the management port and/or self IP addresses to execute system commands. This vulnerability can be used in conjunction with CVE-2023-46748.”[1]
The underlying weakness is authentication bypass (CWE-288), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; F5’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility.
Most families won’t have F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 31 Oct 2023, 5 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 21 Nov 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 97%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
F5 has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 21 Nov 2023 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 97%.[4] |
See also
Other F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility flaws
- CVE-2023-46748: SQL injection ·
Other F5 flaws
- CVE-2026-94127, F5 BIG-IP APM: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-53521, F5 BIG-IP: stack-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2022-1388, F5 BIG-IP: missing authentication ·
- CVE-2021-22991, F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2021-22986, F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management: icontrol REST remote code execution ·
Other authentication bypass flaws
- CVE-2026-20079, Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) and Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management: firewall management center authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel ·
- CVE-2026-19490, Citrix NetScaler: authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel ·
- CVE-2026-18556, N-able N-central: authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel ·
- CVE-2026-18577, N-able N-central: authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel ·
- CVE-2026-1603, Ivanti Endpoint Manager (EPM): authentication bypass ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-46748, F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility: SQL injection ·
Every F5 flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in October 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility Authentication Bypass Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 31 Oct 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-46747 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 26 Oct 2023.
- ^ F5. Advisories and fixes: my.f5.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.967, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-46747”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.