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

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-22986-f5-big-ip-and-big-iq-centralized-management-icontrol-rest-remote  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-22986 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

The iControl REST interface in F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management contains an unauthenticated remote command execution vulnerability. Attackers with network access can execute system commands, manage files, and disable services without authentication.

Technologies: [F5 BIG-IP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/big-ip), [F5 Big-Iq Centralized Management](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/big-iq-centralized-management). Vendors: [F5](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/f5).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-22986 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-22986 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-22986?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** F5 BIG-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; F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 7.1.0.x before 7.1.0.3, 7.0.0.x before 7.0.0.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-22986?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2021-22986 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-22986?** Check whether you run F5 BIG-IP or F5 Big-Iq Centralized Management. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- F5 BIG-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
- F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 7.1.0.x before 7.1.0.3, 7.0.0.x before 7.0.0.2

## Timeline

- 2021-03-10: disclosed: Initial NIST analysis date recorded in change history
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Date added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: advisory: Publication date of the advisory

## Related threats

- [F5 BIG-IP privilege escalation in TMUI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-66842-f5-big-ip-privilege-escalation-in-tmui)
- [F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility error message spoofing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63020-f5-big-ip-configuration-utility-error-message-spoofing)
- [F5 BIG-IP denial of service in HTTP/2 profile memory management](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59762-f5-big-ip-denial-of-service-in-http-2-profile-memory-management)
- [F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ incorrect permission assignment in tmsh and iControl REST](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-42937-f5-big-ip-and-big-iq-incorrect-permission-assignment-in-tmsh-and)
- [F5 BIG-IP Appliance mode restriction bypass via path traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-42930-f5-big-ip-appliance-mode-restriction-bypass-via-path-traversal)