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

Published Mar 31, 2021 · Updated May 17, 2026

Why patchRisk explained in plain English

Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. CISA has confirmed use of this vulnerability in known ransomware campaigns — treat as high priority for remediation. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2021-11-17 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (CWE-918) vulnerability in F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management. 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. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

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Phishing link

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Malicious file

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Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

●IT Security

●Running big-ip access policy manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip advanced firewall manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip advanced web application firewall: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip analytics: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip application acceleration manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip application security manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip ddos hybrid defender: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip domain name system: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip fraud protection service: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip global traffic manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip link controller: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip local traffic manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-ip policy enforcement manager: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1; big-iq centralized management: 6.0.0 ≤ v < 6.1.0, 7.0.0 ≤ v < 7.0.0.2, 7.1.0 ≤ v < 7.1.0.3; ssl orchestrator: 12.1.0 ≤ v < 12.1.5.3, 13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.3.6, 14.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.4, 15.1.0 ≤ v < 15.1.2.1, 16.0.0 ≤ v < 16.0.1.1

Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Used in known ransomware campaigns. Threat-research write-up: http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162059/F5-iControl-Server-Side-Request-Forgery-Remote-Command-Execution.html

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Identify affected hosts: query inventory for network-security installs in scope.

Apply the vendor security update referenced in CVE-2021-22986's advisory. No specific KB/version is encoded yet — consult the linked MSRC/vendor URL.

Verify the fix per the vendor's published verification steps.

Document the remediation in your change ticket and re-scan with your vulnerability scanner to confirm closure.

PowerShell automationComing soon

No tested PowerShell script for this entry yet. We’re prioritising automation based on user demand.

References

↗ CVE-2021-22986 ↗ MSRC Advisory ↗ NVD ↗ Vendor Advisory