CVE-2022-41983 is a vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the F5 BIG-IP application delivery controller (ADC) platform, specifically versions 16.1.x prior to 16.1.3.1, 15.1.x prior to 15.1.7, 14.1.x prior to 14.1.5.1, and all versions of 13.1.x. The issue arises on specific hardware platforms when Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) is enabled and the AES-GCM or AES-CCM cipher suites are in use. Under these conditions, an undisclosed set of circumstances can cause the BIG-IP device to transmit sensitive data in cleartext, despite an SSL profile being applied. This means that data expected to be encrypted during transmission could be exposed in plaintext over the network, violating confidentiality guarantees. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-319, which relates to cleartext transmission of sensitive information. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.7, indicating a low severity primarily due to the complexity of exploitation and limited impact scope. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive data to network eavesdropping. The issue is specific to the interaction between hardware acceleration (Intel QAT) and certain cipher suites, which may limit the affected deployments. No patches or mitigations are linked in the provided information, but F5 has released fixed versions addressing the vulnerability. Organizations using affected BIG-IP versions with Intel QAT and AES-GCM/CCM ciphers should prioritize upgrading to patched releases to prevent potential data leakage.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41983 centers on the confidentiality of sensitive data transmitted through F5 BIG-IP devices. BIG-IP ADCs are widely used in enterprise environments for load balancing, SSL offloading, and application security. If exploited, attackers with network access could intercept unencrypted sensitive information such as authentication tokens, session cookies, or other confidential payloads, leading to potential data breaches or unauthorized access. This is particularly critical for sectors handling personal data under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data exposure can result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. However, the low CVSS score and the requirement for specific hardware and cipher configurations reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation. The absence of known active exploits further lowers immediate risk. Nonetheless, organizations relying on BIG-IP devices with Intel QAT acceleration and AES-GCM/CCM ciphers should assess their configurations carefully. The vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks, especially in environments where network segmentation is weak or where attackers have gained internal network access. The potential for data leakage may also impact compliance with European data protection regulations, increasing the importance of timely remediation.

1. Upgrade to patched versions of F5 BIG-IP: Organizations should promptly update to versions 16.1.3.1 or later, 15.1.7 or later, 14.1.5.1 or later, or any fixed release beyond 13.1.x as provided by F5. 2. Disable Intel QAT hardware acceleration if immediate patching is not feasible, as the vulnerability is linked to QAT usage. This may reduce performance but mitigates the risk of cleartext transmission. 3. Review and modify SSL profiles to avoid using AES-GCM or AES-CCM cipher suites in conjunction with Intel QAT until patches are applied. 4. Implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns or potential interception attempts on BIG-IP devices. 5. Conduct thorough audits of BIG-IP configurations to verify that SSL/TLS encryption is properly enforced and no cleartext data is transmitted. 6. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) capable of identifying unencrypted sensitive data flows. 7. Engage with F5 support and subscribe to security advisories to stay informed about updates and best practices. 8. For critical environments, consider deploying additional encryption layers at the application level to protect sensitive data in transit independently of BIG-IP encryption.