CVE-2023-38418

Local privilege escalation via improper signature verification

Published Aug 2, 2023 · Updated Oct 17, 2024

Improper signature verification in F5 BIG-IP Edge Client 7.2.3 before 7.2.4.3 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. The macOS installer elevates privileges without properly validating a cryptographic signature, but F5 has not identified the signed object or faulty verification step. Low-privileged local access and execution of the installation workflow are required; successful exploitation grants elevated code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper signature verification in F5 BIG-IP Edge Client 7.2.3 before 7.2.4.3 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. The macOS installer elevates privileges without properly validating a cryptographic signature, but F5 has not identified the signed object or faulty verification step. Low-privileged local access and execution of the installation workflow are required; successful exploitation grants elevated code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38418
Published
Aug 2, 2023
Updated
Oct 17, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP Edge Client
Classifications
CWE-347, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 2, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 17, 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=7.2.3 <7.2.4.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IP Edge Clientversion=7.2.3 <7.2.4.3

Published CVSS scores

7.8F5 NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
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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