CVE-2021-22986

Exp

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.

Published: 2021-03-31 Last update: 2026-06-16 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2021-22986 is rated Critical Active Threat (100/100): CVSS Critical severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 99.90%, 100th percentile). CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2021-11-03) affecting F5 / BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management. a weakness (CWE-918) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. EPSS rose +5.43% over the last day, indicating growing attacker interest. The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2021-22986

Name: F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2021-11-03

Action due: 2021-11-17

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2021-22986

EDB-ID Source Kind Published Link
49738 exploit_db edb 2021-04-02 Exploit-DB ↗
— nvd_ref exploit_tag Exploit-DB ↗
— nvd_ref exploit_tag Exploit-DB ↗

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-22986

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 94.47% 99.90% +5.43%
2 2025-11-21 94.39% 94.47% +0.07%
3 2025-11-18 — 94.39% —

Full EPSS history (18 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2021-22986

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
9.8 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 3.9 5.9 [email protected]
9.8 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 3.9 5.9 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
10.0 2.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:C)
Complete confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:C)
Complete integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C)
Complete availability impact.
 10.0 10.0 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2021-22986

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2021-22986

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
f5 big-ip_access_policy_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_access_policy_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_access_policy_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_access_policy_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_access_policy_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_analytics >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_analytics >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_analytics >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_analytics >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_analytics >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_acceleration_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_acceleration_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_acceleration_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_acceleration_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_acceleration_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_security_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_security_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_security_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_security_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_application_security_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_domain_name_system >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_domain_name_system >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_domain_name_system >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_domain_name_system >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_domain_name_system >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_fraud_protection_service >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_fraud_protection_service >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_fraud_protection_service >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_fraud_protection_service >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_fraud_protection_service >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_global_traffic_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_global_traffic_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_global_traffic_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_global_traffic_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_global_traffic_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_link_controller >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_link_controller >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_link_controller >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_link_controller >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_link_controller >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-iq_centralized_management >= 6.0.0, < 6.1.0 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-iq_centralized_management:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-iq_centralized_management >= 7.0.0, < 7.0.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-iq_centralized_management:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 big-iq_centralized_management >= 7.1.0, < 7.1.0.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-iq_centralized_management:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 ssl_orchestrator >= 12.1.0, < 12.1.5.3 cpe:2.3:a:f5:ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 ssl_orchestrator >= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.6 cpe:2.3:a:f5:ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 ssl_orchestrator >= 14.1.0, < 14.1.4 cpe:2.3:a:f5:ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 ssl_orchestrator >= 15.1.0, < 15.1.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
f5 ssl_orchestrator >= 16.0.0, < 16.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:f5:ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2021-22986

cvelogic Threat Intelligence