How severe is CVE-2016-9251?

CVE-2016-9251 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-9251 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-9251?

CVE-2016-9251 primarily affects F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager. In total, 40 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-9251?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-9251 published?

CVE-2016-9251 was published on 2017-05-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-9251

CVE-2016-9251 is a high-severity vulnerability in F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 6.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (71st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-264
Affected product: F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager
Published: 2017-05-09
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In F5 BIG-IP 12.0.0 through 12.1.2, an authenticated attacker may be able to cause an escalation of privileges through a crafted iControl REST connection.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-9251?: In F5 BIG-IP 12.0.0 through 12.1.2, an authenticated attacker may be able to cause an escalation of privileges through a crafted iControl REST connection.
How severe is CVE-2016-9251?: CVE-2016-9251 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-9251 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-9251?: CVE-2016-9251 primarily affects F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager. In total, 40 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-9251?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-9251 published?: CVE-2016-9251 was published on 2017-05-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (40)

cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_websafe:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_websafe:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_websafe:12.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_websafe:12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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