CVE-2021-22986

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...

9.8 CriticalIn KEVPublic exploit

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

99.9%Up 61.7 points since Apr 14, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Record: CVE-2021-22986
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 10.0 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness: CWE-918
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List 9.8

Record: CVE-2021-22986
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-918
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2021-10104 9.8

Record: EUVD-2021-10104
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8489-vwcj-fxfr 9.8

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...

Record: GHSA-8489-vwcj-fxfr
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-918
Updated: 2026-11-02

CISA KEV No score

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.

Record: CVE-2021-22986
Weakness: CWE-863
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

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Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Metasploit	F5 iControl REST Unauthenticated SSRF Token Generation RCE	2021-03-10
PoC in GitHub	dorkerdevil/CVE-2021-22986-Poc	2021-03-17
PoC in GitHub	S1xHcL/f5_rce_poc	2021-03-19
PoC in GitHub	Osyanina/westone-CVE-2021-22986-scanner	2021-03-20
PoC in GitHub	safesword/F5_RCE	2021-03-21
PoC in GitHub	Al1ex/CVE-2021-22986	2021-03-22
PoC in GitHub	kiri-48/CVE-2021-22986	2021-03-22
PoC in GitHub	microvorld/CVE-2021-22986	2021-03-22
PoC in GitHub	ZephrFish/CVE-2021-22986_Check	2021-03-23
PoC in GitHub	yaunsky/CVE-202122986-EXP	2021-03-26

Show 8 moreShow less

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
PoC in GitHub	Tas9er/CVE-2021-22986	2021-03-29
PoC in GitHub	dotslashed/CVE-2021-22986	2021-03-29
Exploit-DB	F5 BIG-IP 16.0.x - iControl REST Remote Code Execution (Unauthenticated)	2021-04-02
PoC in GitHub	DDestinys/CVE-2021-22986	2022-04-01
PoC in GitHub	west9b/F5-BIG-IP-POC	2022-05-28
PoC in GitHub	amitlttwo/CVE-2021-22986	2023-02-07
PoC in GitHub	huydung26/CVE-2021-22986	2023-12-28
Nuclei	F5 iControl REST - Remote Command Execution

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	exploitation, exploits
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, Metasploit, Nuclei, NVD, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-22986 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in F5 Big-ip And Big-iq Centralized Management, published March 31, 2021. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since November 3, 2021. EUVD reports exploitation since November 3, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 99.9%, the 99th percentile. No source names a fixed version.