Bug ID 1096893: TCP syncookie-initiated connections may end up unexpectedly IP-fragmenting packets mid-connection

Last Modified: May 29, 2024

Affected Product(s):
BIG-IP LTM(all modules)

Known Affected Versions:
15.0.0, 15.0.1, 15.0.1.1, 15.0.1.2, 15.0.1.3, 15.0.1.4, 15.1.0, 15.1.0.1, 15.1.0.2, 15.1.0.3, 15.1.0.4, 15.1.0.5, 15.1.1, 15.1.2, 15.1.2.1, 15.1.3, 15.1.3.1, 15.1.4, 15.1.4.1, 15.1.5, 15.1.5.1, 15.1.6, 15.1.6.1, 15.1.7, 15.1.8, 15.1.8.1, 15.1.8.2, 16.0.0, 16.0.0.1, 16.0.1, 16.0.1.1, 16.0.1.2, 16.1.0, 16.1.1, 16.1.2, 16.1.2.1, 16.1.2.2, 16.1.3, 16.1.3.1, 16.1.3.2, 16.1.3.3, 16.1.3.4, 16.1.3.5, 17.0.0, 17.0.0.1, 17.0.0.2, 17.1.0, 17.1.0.1, 17.1.0.2, 17.1.0.3

Fixed In:
17.1.1, 16.1.4, 15.1.9

Opened: Apr 08, 2022

Severity: 3-Major

Symptoms

When route metrics are applied by the TCP filter to a connection initiated by a syncookie, TCP sets the effective MSS for packetization, thereafter the egress_mtu will be set as per the route metrics entry, if present. The packets falling between the effective MSS and the lowered egress_mtu end up being unexpectedly IP-fragmented.

Impact

Application traffic can fail or see disruption due to unexpected IP fragmentation.

Conditions

SYN cookies enabled and activated. A route metrics PMTU entry for the destination address that is smaller than the VLAN's egress MTU.

Workaround

Disable syn cookies (Reference: https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K80970950). Alternatively, you can apply a lower static MTU to the interface.

Fix Information

None

Behavior Change

Guides & references

K10134038: F5 Bug Tracker Filter Names and Tips