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CVE-2021-22986

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

9.8 CRITICALActively exploited (CISA KEV)Used in ransomwarePublic exploitEPSS 99.9%
  1. Published31 Mar 2021
  2. Added to CISA KEV3 Nov 2021
  3. Remediation due17 Nov 2021
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

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.

Added to KEV: 3 Nov 2021Federal remediation due: 17 Nov 2021Used in ransomware

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 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredNone
User interactionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

F5 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
F5 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
F5 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
F5 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
F5 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
F5 Big-ip Application Security 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
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender≥ 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
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System≥ 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
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service≥ 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
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic 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
F5 Big-ip Link Controller≥ 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
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic 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
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement 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
F5 Big-iq Centralized Management≥ 6.0.0 < 6.1.0 · ≥ 7.0.0 < 7.0.0.2 · ≥ 7.1.0 < 7.1.0.3
F5 SSL Orchestrator≥ 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

Remediation

Fixed in
F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Analytics≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Application Security Manager≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service≥ 12.1.5.3
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager≥ 12.1.5.3

References

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2021-22986 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-22986 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 3 Nov 2021. It has been used in ransomware campaigns.

How severe is CVE-2021-22986?

CVE-2021-22986 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated critical. EPSS estimates a 99.9% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2021-22986?

Affected products include F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall, F5 Big-ip Analytics, F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager, and 10 more.

How do I fix CVE-2021-22986?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager 12.1.5.3, F5 Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager 12.1.5.3, F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall 12.1.5.3 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-22986 against the real software inventory on every managed device, every day. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, Secuno flags any affected asset as top-priority automatically. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.