CVE-2020-5863Network attack vector

Unauthenticated account creation via missing API authorization

Published Mar 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in F5 NGINX Controller before 3.2.0 allows remote attackers to create unprivileged accounts through its API. The Controller API account-creation path accepts unauthenticated requests instead of enforcing authentication before provisioning a user. Network access to the API is required; a created account can upload a new license but cannot view or modify other components.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability1.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in F5 NGINX Controller before 3.2.0 allows remote attackers to create unprivileged accounts through its API. The Controller API account-creation path accepts unauthenticated requests instead of enforcing authentication before provisioning a user. Network access to the API is required; a created account can upload a new license but cannot view or modify other components.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5863
Published
Mar 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
NGINX Controller
Classifications
T1136
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 27, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0.0-3.1.0, 2.0.0-2.9.0, 1.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · NGINX Controllerversion=3.0.0-3.1.0, 2.0.0-2.9.0, 1.0.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1136Create Account

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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