Big Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall
CVE-2021-23015
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization logic validation
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 7.2 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources by sending crafted requests to the affected application. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
On BIG-IP 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 13.1.0.8 through 13.1.3.6, and all versions of 16.0.x, when running in Appliance Mode, an authenticated user assigned the 'Administrator' role. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Review and test authorization logic, implement consistent access control checks, use centralized authorization framework.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863), which allows attackers to bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources. On BIG-IP 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 13.1.0.8 through 13.1.3.6, and all versions of 16.0.x, when running in Appliance Mode, an authenticated user assigned the 'Administrator' role may be able to bypass Appliance Mode restrictions utilizing undisclosed iControl REST endpoints. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated. Affected products include: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall, F5 Big-Ip Analytics, F5 Big-Ip Application Acceleration Manager. Version information: before 15.1.3.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
On BIG-IP 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 13.1.0.8 through 13.1.3.6, and all versions of 16.0.x, when running in Appliance Mode, an authenticated user assigned the 'Administrator' role may be able to bypass Appliance Mode restrictions utilizing undisclosed iControl REST endpoints. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Denial of service against HTTP/2 server implementations allows remote unauthenticated attackers to exhaust server resour
F5 BIG-IP APM (Access Policy Manager) contains a remote code execution vulnerability triggered by specific malicious tra
F5 BIG-IP contains an authenticated command injection in the iControl REST API and TMOS Shell (tmsh) save command. Authe
Undisclosed requests may bypass configuration utility authentication, allowing an attacker with network access to the BI
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.
An authenticated SQL injection vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP Configuration utility which may allow an authenticated
BIG-IP monitor functionality may allow an attacker to bypass access control restrictions, regardless of the port lockdow
A directory traversal vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP Configuration Utility that may allow an authenticated attacker
On version 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.1, 13.1.x before 13.1.4, 12.1.x before 12.
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, 12.1.x
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.
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, 12.1.x
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB