CVE-2023-46748
CVE-2023-46748 is a security flaw in F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility, equipment big companies use to route traffic to their websites and apps. Someone who already has a way in can use F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility to run their own code. 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.[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 SQL injection in F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility. In its words: “F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility contains an SQL injection vulnerability that may allow an authenticated attacker with network access through the BIG-IP management port and/or self IP addresses to execute system commands. This vulnerability can be used in conjunction with CVE-2023-46747.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “An authenticated SQL injection vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP Configuration utility which may allow an authenticated attacker with network access to the Configuration utility through the BIG-IP management port and/or self IP addresses to execute arbitrary system commands. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated”[2]
The underlying weakness is SQL injection (CWE-89), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, 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]
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 4%. That’s in the top 9% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
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 8.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[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 4%.[4] |
See also
Other F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility flaws
- CVE-2023-46747: authentication bypass ·
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 SQL injection flaws
- CVE-2026-114625, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-76461, Cisco Secure Email Gateway: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-9586, Sangoma Switchvox: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-72898, Metabase: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-60137, WordPress Core: SQL injection ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-46747, F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility: authentication bypass ·
Every F5 flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in October 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility SQL Injection Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 31 Oct 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-46748 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 26 Oct 2023.
- ^ F5. Advisories and fixes: my.f5.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.043, percentile 91.1, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-46748”. 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.