CVE-2020-5886Network attack vector

Cryptographic-object disclosure via unencrypted state mirroring

Published Apr 30, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Cleartext transmission in F5 Networks BIG-IP allows remote attackers to read sensitive cryptographic objects from connection-mirroring traffic. The state-mirroring channel does not require TLS by default, so an HA peer sends cryptographic material across that channel without transport protection. Exposure requires connection mirroring in an HA pair and access to the dedicated mirroring network; the disclosed consequence is loss of confidentiality for the transferred objects.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext transmission in F5 Networks BIG-IP allows remote attackers to read sensitive cryptographic objects from connection-mirroring traffic. The state-mirroring channel does not require TLS by default, so an HA peer sends cryptographic material across that channel without transport protection. Exposure requires connection mirroring in an HA pair and access to the dedicated mirroring network; the disclosed consequence is loss of confidentiality for the transferred objects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5886
Published
Apr 30, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP
Classifications
CWE-326, CWE-319, T1040
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=15.0.0-15.1.0.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2.3, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IPversion=15.0.0-15.1.0.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2.3, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1

Published CVSS scores

6.4NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-326Inadequate Encryption Strength
CWE-319Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
T1040Network Sniffing

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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