CVE-2023-28406Network attack vector

Authenticated XML file disclosure via path traversal

Published May 3, 2023 · Updated Jan 29, 2025

Path traversal in the F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility allows remote authenticated users to read limited XML files. An undisclosed Configuration utility page fails to confine a pathname to its intended directory, but F5 has not published the page or parameter. A valid account and network access to the utility are required; obtained information is restricted, attacker-unselected, and read-only.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in the F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility allows remote authenticated users to read limited XML files. An undisclosed Configuration utility page fails to confine a pathname to its intended directory, but F5 has not published the page or parameter. A valid account and network access to the utility are required; obtained information is restricted, attacker-unselected, and read-only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28406
Published
May 3, 2023
Updated
Jan 29, 2025
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP
Classifications
CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 29, 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=13.1.0 <*
  2. Affected versionversion=14.1.0 <14.1.5.4
  3. Affected versionversion=15.1.0 <15.1.8.2
  4. Affected versionversion=16.1.0 <16.1.3.4
  5. Affected versionversion=17.0.0 <*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IPversion=13.1.0 <*; version=14.1.0 <14.1.5.4; version=15.1.0 <15.1.8.2; version=16.1.0 <16.1.3.4; version=17.0.0 <*

Published CVSS scores

4.3F5 NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo