CVE-2020-5902Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via request-path parsing mismatch

Published Jul 1, 2020 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Path traversal in F5 Networks BIG-IP TMUI allows remote attackers to execute system commands via crafted HTTP requests. Apache httpd checks authentication before Tomcat removes semicolon path parameters and normalizes traversal segments, exposing protected TMUI handlers. Exploitation requires network access to TMUI, but no credentials or user interaction, and grants root-level execution on the appliance.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability100.00%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in F5 Networks BIG-IP TMUI allows remote attackers to execute system commands via crafted HTTP requests. Apache httpd checks authentication before Tomcat removes semicolon path parameters and normalizes traversal segments, exposing protected TMUI handlers. Exploitation requires network access to TMUI, but no credentials or user interaction, and grants root-level execution on the appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5902
Published
Jul 1, 2020
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 1, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 3, 2020Exploitation reportedNCC Group observed active TMUI exploitation
  3. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=15.0.0-15.1.0.3, 14.1.0-14.1.2.5, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1, 11.6.1-11.6.5.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IPversion=15.0.0-15.1.0.3, 14.1.0-14.1.2.5, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1, 11.6.1-11.6.5.1

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsShadowserver observations through Sep 28, 2026. Gaps indicate unavailable data.
Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
View daily counts
Reporting dayUnique IPs
Sep 22, 202610
Sep 23, 20264
Sep 24, 20265
Sep 25, 202614
Sep 26, 20267
Sep 27, 202616
Sep 28, 20268
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPs8
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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