CVE-2020-5873Network attack vector

Authenticated command execution via crafted SCP request

Published Apr 30, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in F5 Networks BIG-IP and BIG-IQ affected releases allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via SCP. The secure-shell SCP path accepts a crafted request from a Resource Administrator account that lacks Advanced Shell access, but F5 has not disclosed the faulty parsing or command-construction operation. Successful exploitation bypasses the account's shell restriction and grants command execution on the appliance without user interaction.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in F5 Networks BIG-IP and BIG-IQ affected releases allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via SCP. The secure-shell SCP path accepts a crafted request from a Resource Administrator account that lacks Advanced Shell access, but F5 has not disclosed the faulty parsing or command-construction operation. Successful exploitation bypasses the account's shell restriction and grants command execution on the appliance without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5873
Published
Apr 30, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP
Classifications
T1059, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 30, 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=11.6.1-11.6.5
  2. Affected versionversion=12.1.0-12.1.5
  3. Affected versionversion=13.1.0-13.1.3.1
  4. Affected versionversion=14.1.0-14.1.2.3
  5. Affected versionversion=15.0.0-15.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IPversion=11.6.1-11.6.5; version=12.1.0-12.1.5; version=13.1.0-13.1.3.1; version=14.1.0-14.1.2.3; version=15.0.0-15.0.1
F5 Networks · BIG-IQversion=5.2.0-7.1.0

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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