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Big Ip Access Policy ManagerApplication · F5

CVE-2021-23025

HIGH · 8.8 CVSS v3.1 Published 2021-09-14
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 13.1.3.5 / 14.1.3.1 or later.
See remediation →
94/100
Remediation priority · Urgent
Remotely reachable Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
On version 15.1.x before 15.1.0.5, 14.1.x before 14.1.3.1, 13.1.x before 13.1.3.5, and all versions of 12.1.x and 11.6.x, an authenticated remote command execution vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP Configuration utility. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

This is an authenticated remote command execution vulnerability in the F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility affecting multiple version branches (15.1.x before 15.1.0.5, 14.1.x before 14.1.3.1, 13.1.x before 13.1.3.5, and all 12.1.x/11.6.x versions). An attacker with valid admin credentials to the Configuration utility can execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system with elevated privileges.

MitigationApply the vendor-supplied patches to upgrade to version 15.1.0.5 or later, 14.1.3.1 or later, or 13.1.3.5 or later. For EoTS versions (12.1.x, 11.6.x), immediate upgrade to a supported version is required.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Big Ip Access Policy ManagerApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Advanced Firewall ManagerApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Advanced Web Application FirewallApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip AnalyticsApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Application Acceleration ManagerApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Application Security ManagerApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Ddos Hybrid DefenderApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5
Big Ip Domain Name SystemApplication
Affected:>= 11.6.1, <= 11.6.5>= 12.1.0, <= 12.1.6>= 13.1.0, < 13.1.3.5>= 14.1.0, < 14.1.3.1>= 15.0.0, < 15.1.0.5

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify the BIG-IP base version
    Run `tmsh show /sys version` on the command line, or log into the Configuration utility and check System > About > Version
    Affected if The version displayed is 15.1.x before 15.1.0.5, 14.1.x before 14.1.3.1, 13.1.x before 13.1.3.5, or any 12.1.x or 11.6.x version (including 11.6.1-11.6.5)
  2. Determine which modules are installed
    Run `tmsh list /sys module` to list installed modules such as APM, AFM, ASM, Analytics, AAM, DNS, or DDoS Hybrid Defender
    Affected if Any of these modules are installed on an affected version (the base version check above determines vulnerability, not the presence of specific modules)
  3. Verify Configuration utility accessibility
    Confirm whether the Configuration utility web interface (typically on port 443 or 8443) is reachable from network locations where untrusted users could connect
    Affected if The Configuration utility is exposed to untrusted networks without appropriate access restrictions (this is a prerequisite for remote exploitation)
  4. Check for admin user accounts
    Review user accounts with administrative privileges using `tmsh list /auth user` or via the Configuration utility under User Management > User List
    Affected if There are admin-level accounts whose credentials could be compromised (an attacker needs valid admin credentials to exploit this vulnerability)

You are affected if your BIG-IP version falls within the vulnerable ranges (15.1.x < 15.1.0.5, 14.1.x < 14.1.3.1, 13.1.x < 13.1.3.5, or any 12.1.x/11.6.x) AND the Configuration utility is accessible to an attacker who could obtain admin credentials.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to 13.1.3.5 / 14.1.3.1 / 15.1.0.5 or later
Fixed in 13.1.3.514.1.3.115.1.0.5
Interim mitigation

Apply the vendor-supplied patches to upgrade to version 15.1.0.5 or later, 14.1.3.1 or later, or 13.1.3.5 or later. For EoTS versions (12.1.x, 11.6.x), immediate upgrade to a supported version is required.

Recommended fix High confidence

14.1.3.1 (or later 14.1.x) | 13.1.3.5 (or later 13.1.x) | 15.1.0.5 (or later 15.1.x)

  1. 1. Identify the current BIG-IP version by running 'tmsh show sys version' or checking the Configuration utility (System > Software > Image List)
  2. 2. Download the appropriate fixed version from F5 Networks (14.1.3.1 or later for 14.1.x, 13.1.3.5 or later for 13.1.x, 15.1.0.5 or later for 15.1.x)
  3. 3. Upload the ISO image to the BIG-IP device via the Configuration utility (System > Software > Image List > Import) or via SCP/tftp
  4. 4. Create a boot partition for the new version (System > Software > Volume List > Create)
  5. 5. Install the new version to the boot partition (System > Software > Volume List > Install)
  6. 6. Select the new volume as the active boot location and reboot the device
  7. 7. After reboot, verify the new version is running: 'tmsh show sys version'
  8. 8. Test critical BIG-IP functionality to ensure normal operation
Caveat Upgrading BIG-IP may cause configuration changes; review release notes for any compatibility notes. Note: Versions 12.1.x and 11.6.x have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) and do not receive patches - upgrade to a supported version branch.

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Big Ip Access Policy Manager Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation3.0 h
  • Implementation4.0 h
  • Testing3.0 h
  • Review / QA2.0 h
12.0 hours of engineering $2,130
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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2021-23025 in production — separate from our analysis above.

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What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data