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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2022-1388 F5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication Vulnerability

F5 BIG-IP contains a missing authentication in critical function vulnerability which can allow for remote code execution, creation or deletion of files, or disabling 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 10 May 2022.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by Vendor).
  • This product type is often exposed to the internet, which is where attackers scan for it first.
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,641 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

On F5 BIG-IP 16.1.x versions prior to 16.1.2.2, 15.1.x versions prior to 15.1.5.1, 14.1.x versions prior to 14.1.4.6, 13.1.x versions prior to 13.1.5, and all 12.1.x and 11.6.x versions, undisclosed requests may bypass iControl REST authentication. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
F5 BIG-IP16.1.x to before 16.1.2.2
15.1.x to before 15.1.5.1
14.1.x to before 14.1.4.6
13.1.x to before 13.1.5
12.1.x to 12.1.6

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. 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 31 May 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

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

Stay Ahead

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-2021-22991F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel Buffer OverflowAdded 18 Jan 2022CVE-2020-5902 · RansomwareF5 BIG-IP Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI) Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityAdded 3 Nov 2021

All 8 exploited F5 vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2022-1388
  3. CVE record: CVE-2022-1388
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. support.f5.com/csp/article/K23605346
  6. packetstormsecurity.com/files/167007/F5-BIG-IP-Remote-Code-Execution.html
  7. packetstormsecurity.com/files/167118/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.html
  8. packetstormsecurity.com/files/167150/F5-BIG-IP-iControl-Remote-Code-Execution.html
  9. secpod.com/blog/critical-f5-big-ip-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-patch-now/