CVE-2025-53860 is a vulnerability identified in the F5OS-A software used on F5 rSeries appliances, specifically versions 1.5.0 and 1.8.0. The flaw is classified under CWE-214, which involves the invocation of processes that expose sensitive information visibly. In this case, a highly privileged authenticated attacker can access sensitive information stored within the FIPS-compliant hardware security module (HSM) integrated into these appliances. The HSM typically safeguards cryptographic keys and sensitive operations, so exposure of its data could compromise the integrity of cryptographic functions. The vulnerability requires local access with high privileges, no user interaction, and has a high attack complexity, indicating that exploitation is non-trivial and limited to trusted users with elevated permissions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.1, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the requirement for high privileges and local access. There are no known exploits in the wild, and the vendor has not yet published patches, though affected versions that have reached End of Technical Support are excluded from evaluation. This vulnerability could allow attackers to glean sensitive cryptographic material, which might be leveraged in further attacks or to undermine secure communications and authentication mechanisms relying on the HSM.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential exposure of sensitive cryptographic material protected by the FIPS HSM on F5 rSeries appliances. This could undermine the confidentiality and trustworthiness of encrypted communications, VPNs, and authentication services that rely on these devices. Critical sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure operators that deploy F5 appliances for load balancing, security, and traffic management are at risk. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability or integrity, the compromise of cryptographic keys could lead to broader security breaches, including data interception or unauthorized access. The requirement for high privileges and local access limits the threat to insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access, but the consequences of such an insider threat are significant. The medium severity score reflects these factors, but organizations should treat the risk seriously given the critical role of HSMs in securing sensitive operations.

1. Restrict and tightly control access to highly privileged accounts on F5 rSeries appliances, enforcing the principle of least privilege. 2. Implement robust monitoring and alerting for unusual access patterns or commands executed by privileged users on these devices. 3. Segregate management networks and limit local access to F5 appliances to trusted administrators only. 4. Regularly audit and review user privileges and session logs to detect potential misuse. 5. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. 6. Consider deploying additional layers of encryption or key management solutions external to the vulnerable HSM if feasible. 7. Conduct security awareness training for administrators about the risks of exposing sensitive information through process invocation. 8. Use multi-factor authentication for all privileged access to reduce the risk of credential compromise leading to exploitation.