CVE-2021-22986: F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2021-22986 is a high (CVSS 10.0) Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 03-11-2021. It has been used in ransomware campaigns. EPSS estimates a 99.90% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of scored vulnerabilities. 4 public exploits are recorded.
Timeline
- 31-03-2021PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 03-11-2021Added to CISA KEVF5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- 17-11-2021CISA remediation dueApply updates per vendor instructions.
- 21-10-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
On BIG-IP versions 16.0.x before 16.0.1.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.2.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.4, 13.1.x before 13.1.3.6, and 12.1.x before 12.1.5.3 amd BIG-IQ 7.1.0.x before 7.1.0.3 and 7.0.0.x before 7.0.0.2, the iControl REST interface has an unauthenticated remote command execution vulnerability. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Software Development (EoSD) are not evaluated.
CVSS metrics
3 scores · 2 sources · 2 versions- NVDNIST9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
99.90%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
100%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 99.90% on 18-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVListed- Added
- 03-11-2021
- Federal due date
- 17-11-2021
CISA required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions. nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22986
Public exploits
4 foundExploit Reference (packetstormsecurity.com)
Maturity: unknown
Exploit Reference (packetstormsecurity.com)
Maturity: unknown
F5 BIG-IP 16.0.x - iControl REST Remote Code Execution (Unauthenticated)
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
F515 products
- big-ip_access_policy_manager≥ 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 | ≥ 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 | ≥ 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 | ≥ 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1
- big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager≥ 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 | ≥ 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 | ≥ 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 | ≥ 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1
- big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall≥ 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 | ≥ 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 | ≥ 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 | ≥ 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1
- big-ip_analytics≥ 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 | ≥ 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 | ≥ 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 | ≥ 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1
- big-ip_application_acceleration_manager≥ 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 | ≥ 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 | ≥ 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 | ≥ 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 | ≥ 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1
1 vendor · 15 products
References
4 links- packetstormsecurity.com/files/162066/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlX Refsource MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22986Government ResourceUS Government Resource