CVE-2023-45226Network attack vector

SSH server impersonation via hardcoded credentials

Published Oct 10, 2023 · Updated Sep 18, 2024

Hardcoded credentials in F5 BIG-IP Next SPK 1.5.0 through 1.5.2 allow man-in-the-middle attackers to impersonate its SSH server. The f5-debug-sidecar and f5-debug-sshd containers use fixed SSH credentials that an interceptor can reuse to present the expected server identity. Exposure requires SSH debug to be enabled and control of the traffic path; the flaw does not create a direct remote path from arbitrary networks.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hardcoded credentials in F5 BIG-IP Next SPK 1.5.0 through 1.5.2 allow man-in-the-middle attackers to impersonate its SSH server. The f5-debug-sidecar and f5-debug-sshd containers use fixed SSH credentials that an interceptor can reuse to present the expected server identity. Exposure requires SSH debug to be enabled and control of the traffic path; the flaw does not create a direct remote path from arbitrary networks.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45226
Published
Oct 10, 2023
Updated
Sep 18, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP Next SPK
Classifications
CWE-798, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 10, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 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=1.5.0 <1.6.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IP Next SPKversion=1.5.0 <1.6.0

Published CVSS scores

7.4F5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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