CVE-2022-35243: Authenticated iControl REST in Appliance mode vulnerability CVE-2022-35243

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.1 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2022-08-04 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-269

Description

In BIG-IP Versions 16.1.x before 16.1.3, 15.1.x before 15.1.5.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5, and all versions of 13.1.x, when running in Appliance mode, an authenticated user assigned the Administrator role may be able to bypass Appliance mode restrictions, using an undisclosed iControl REST endpoint. A successful exploit can allow the attacker to cross a security boundary. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Affected products

F5 BIG-IP APM: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
BIG-IP: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Big-Ip Analytics: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Networks, Inc. BIG-IP (AAM): from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
BIG-IP ASM: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 BIG-IP DNS: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Big-Ip Fraud Protection Service: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Big-Ip Global Traffic Manager: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Big-Ip Link Controller: from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 BIG-IP (LTM): from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3
F5 Networks, Inc. BIG-IP (PEM): from 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; from 14.1.0 before 14.1.5; from 15.1.0 before 15.1.6.1; from 16.1.0 before 16.1.3 — fixed in 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: F5 BIG-IP APM 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; BIG-IP 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Big-Ip Analytics 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Networks, Inc. BIG-IP (AAM) 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; BIG-IP ASM 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 BIG-IP DNS 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Big-Ip Fraud Protection Service 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Big-Ip Global Traffic Manager 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Big-Ip Link Controller 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 BIG-IP (LTM) 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3; F5 Networks, Inc. BIG-IP (PEM) 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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