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Findings

CVE-2021-22986

F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Mar 31, 2021 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · f5 big-ip access policy manager · evidence confidence very high

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.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2021-22986 is a critical public vulnerability record for f5 big-ip access policy manager. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether f5 big-ip access policy manager is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: f5/big-ip access policy manager; f5/big-ip advanced firewall manager; F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 9.8, EPSS 99.9%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Weakness classes: CWE-863, CWE-918. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, exploitdb. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Nov 3, 2021. Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA due date Nov 17, 2021.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Mar 31, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Nov 3, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Nov 17, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

Affected

  • cpe f5/big-ip access policy managerversion unspecified
  • cpe f5/big-ip advanced firewall managerversion unspecified
  • vendor F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Managementversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-22986

    F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management contain a remote code execution vulnerability in the iControl REST interface that allows unauthenticated attackers with network access to execute system commands, create or delete files, and disable services.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22986

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2021-22986

    30-day exploitation probability 99.9%

    first.org
  • Exploit DatabasePublic exploit reference49738

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_linux/http/f5_icontrol_rest_ssrf_rce

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22986

    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 vu

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162059/F5-iControl-Server-Side-Request-Forgery-Remote-Command-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162066/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References