CVE-2023-40542: BIG-IP TCP Profile vulnerability

Analyzed

Published 10-10-2023Last modified 18-09-2025

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-40542 is a high (CVSS 7.5) vulnerability in f5 big-ip. EPSS estimates a 0.65% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 50.5% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk

30/100

0100

Medium · default modelHow is this calculated?

CVSS score

7.5/10

010

High · v3.1 (CVE.org)

EPSS score

0.65%

0%100%

Low · +0.11 pp in 30 days

KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.

RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.

Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

10-10-2023
PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
18-09-2025
Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

When TCP Verified Accept is enabled on a TCP profile that is configured on a Virtual Server, undisclosed requests can cause an increase in memory resource utilization. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

v3.17.5

EPSS trend

Probability

0.65%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

51%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

Increase +0.11 pp

From 0.54% on 22-09-2026

22-09-202622-10-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

CWE-770Allocation of Resources Without Limits or ThrottlingThe product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated.

Affected systems

F520 products

big-ip≥ 16.1.0, < 16.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.9 | ≥ 14.1.0 (No fix recorded) | ≥ 13.1.0 (No fix recorded)
big-ip_access_policy_manager≥ 13.1.0, ≤ 13.1.5 | ≥ 14.1.0, ≤ 14.1.5 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.9 | ≥ 16.1.0, < 16.1.4
big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager≥ 13.1.0, ≤ 13.1.5 | ≥ 14.1.0, ≤ 14.1.5 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.9 | ≥ 16.1.0, < 16.1.4
big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall≥ 13.1.0, ≤ 13.1.5 | ≥ 14.1.0, ≤ 14.1.5 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.9 | ≥ 16.1.0, < 16.1.4
big-ip_analytics≥ 13.1.0, ≤ 13.1.5 | ≥ 14.1.0, ≤ 14.1.5 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.9 | ≥ 16.1.0, < 16.1.4

Show all 20

1 vendor · 20 products

References

1 links

my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000134652Vendor Advisory