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,…¶
Key facts
CVE-2021-22986 is a Critical (9.8) vulnerability: 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,…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2021-11-03), confirming active exploitation in the wild, and is linked to known ransomware campaigns.
Actively exploited — on the CISA KEV catalog
CVE-2021-22986 is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2021-11-03), confirming exploitation in the wild. It is linked to known ransomware campaigns. Federal remediation deadline: 2021-11-17. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules below.
| CVE | CVE-2021-22986 |
| Severity | Critical (9.8) |
| CISA KEV | Actively exploited (added 2021-11-03) · ransomware |
| Detection / prevention | — |
| PoC | poc.py |
| Source | 2021/CVE-2021-22986/ |
Details¶
English | 한국어
Description¶
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.
Vulnerability Details¶
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2021-22986 |
| Type | SSRF |
| CVSS Score | 9.8 |
Proof of Concept¶
Download¶
# Download PoC script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fankh/vulnerability-poc/main/2021/CVE-2021-22986/poc.py
Usage¶
# Run PoC against target
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL>
# With authentication
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL> --username <USER> --password <PASS>
⚠️ Warning: This PoC is for authorized security testing only. It uses detection-only techniques and does not exploit or damage target systems.
Test Lab¶
This repository includes a Docker-based test environment with both vulnerable and patched applications.
Quick Start¶
# Clone and navigate to CVE directory
cd CVE-2021-22986
# Start both applications
docker-compose up -d
# Run tests
./run-tests.sh # Linux/Mac
./run-tests.ps1 # Windows PowerShell
Application Endpoints¶
| Application | URL | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerable App | http://localhost:8080 | Shows vulnerability |
| Patched App | http://localhost:8081 | Demonstrates fix |
Directory Structure¶
├── README.md # English documentation
├── README_KO.md # Korean documentation
├── poc.py # PoC detection script
├── docker-compose.yml # Container orchestration
├── run-tests.sh # Linux/Mac test runner
├── run-tests.ps1 # Windows test runner
├── vulnerable-app/ # Vulnerable version
│ ├── app.py
│ ├── Dockerfile
│ └── requirements.txt
└── patched-app/ # Fixed version
├── app.py
├── Dockerfile
└── requirements.txt
References¶
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162059/F5-iControl-Server-Side-Request-Forgery-Remote-Command-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162066/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K03009991
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162059/F5-iControl-Server-Side-Request-Forgery-Remote-Command-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162066/F5-BIG-IP-16.0.x-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K03009991
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22986
Generated by PoC Generator on 2026-06-26T11:44:24.307127691
Frequently asked questions¶
What is CVE-2021-22986?¶
CVE-2021-22986 is a Critical (9.8) vulnerability: 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,…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2021-11-03), confirming active exploitation in the wild, and is linked to known ransomware campaigns.
How do I detect CVE-2021-22986?¶
Run the detection-only PoC included with this entry against your Docker test lab to confirm whether a target is affected; pair it with your own IDS logging.
How do I block or mitigate CVE-2021-22986?¶
Upgrade to a fixed version per the vendor advisory; the NVD record lists the affected versions. Use the included PoC to verify your remediation.
Is CVE-2021-22986 actively exploited?¶
Yes. CVE-2021-22986 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 2021-11-03, which means it has been exploited in the wild. CISA also links it to known ransomware campaigns. CISA set a federal remediation deadline of 2021-11-17. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules above.
For authorized security testing and research only. See the full source and NVD record.