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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2021-22986 F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

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.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
  • This product type is often exposed to the internet, which is where attackers scan for it first.
  • Named in Cybergen threat actor reporting: LockBit.
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

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 Versions

ProductVersions
BIG-IP; BIG-IQBIG-IP 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, 12.1.x before 12.1.5.3
BIG-IQ 7.1.0.x before 7.1.0.3, 7.0.0.x before 7.0.0.2

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated critical, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 17 Nov 2021 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

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More Exploited F5 Flaws

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CVE-2026-94127F5 BIG-IP APM Heap-based Buffer Overflow VulnerabilityAdded 22 Sep 2026CVE-2025-53521F5 BIG-IP Stack-Based Buffer Overflow VulnerabilityAdded 27 Mar 2026CVE-2023-46748F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility SQL Injection VulnerabilityAdded 31 Oct 2023CVE-2023-46747 · RansomwareF5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility Authentication Bypass VulnerabilityAdded 31 Oct 2023CVE-2022-1388 · RansomwareF5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication VulnerabilityAdded 10 May 2022CVE-2021-22991F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel Buffer OverflowAdded 18 Jan 2022

All 8 exploited F5 vulnerabilities

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2021-22986
  3. CVE record: CVE-2021-22986
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. support.f5.com/csp/article/K03009991
  6. packetstormsecurity.com/files/162059/F5-iControl-Server-Side-Request-Forgery-Remote-Command-Executio
  7. packetstormsecurity.com/files/162066/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.html