CVE-2025-60013 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) affecting F5 Networks' F5OS Appliance versions 1.5.0 and 1.8.0. The flaw arises when a highly-privileged, authenticated attacker attempts to initialize the rSeries FIPS hardware security module (HSM) using a password containing special shell metacharacters. Due to insufficient sanitization or neutralization of these special characters, the input is improperly handled, allowing arbitrary system commands to be executed on the underlying operating system. This command injection can cause the FIPS HSM initialization to fail, potentially crossing security boundaries and compromising system integrity. The attack vector requires local access with high privileges (AV:L, PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and the scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.7, reflecting a medium severity level, with partial impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and the vulnerability does not affect versions that have reached End of Technical Support. The absence of patch links suggests that fixes may be forthcoming or pending release by F5. This vulnerability is critical for environments relying on the FIPS HSM for cryptographic operations, as failure to initialize the module can degrade security assurances and operational stability.

For European organizations, especially those in sectors such as telecommunications, finance, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on F5OS appliances for network security and cryptographic operations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could allow attackers with high privileges to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of cryptographic services, and broader compromise of network security boundaries. The failure of the FIPS HSM to initialize undermines compliance with regulatory standards that mandate strong cryptographic protections, such as GDPR and NIS Directive requirements. This could result in operational downtime, data breaches, and regulatory penalties. The medium severity score reflects that while exploitation requires privileged access, the consequences affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a concern for organizations with stringent security postures. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the strategic importance of F5 appliances in European enterprise and government networks.

1. Monitor F5 Networks' advisories closely and apply official patches or updates as soon as they become available to address CVE-2025-60013. 2. Restrict access to F5OS appliances to only trusted administrators with the minimum necessary privileges to reduce the risk of exploitation by highly-privileged attackers. 3. Implement strict password policies that disallow or sanitize special shell metacharacters to prevent injection vectors during FIPS module initialization. 4. Conduct regular audits and monitoring of privileged user activities on F5OS appliances to detect anomalous command executions or failed HSM initializations. 5. Employ network segmentation and isolation for critical F5 appliances to limit the blast radius if a compromise occurs. 6. Validate and harden input handling routines in custom scripts or automation tools interacting with F5OS appliances to prevent injection of malicious commands. 7. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential compromise of cryptographic modules and ensure backups and recovery procedures are tested. 8. Engage with F5 support for guidance on interim mitigations if patches are not yet available.