How severe is CVE-2021-23015?

CVE-2021-23015 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-23015 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (68th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-23015?

CVE-2021-23015 primarily affects F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-23015?

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-2021-23015 published?

CVE-2021-23015 was published on 2021-05-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-23015

CVE-2021-23015 is a high-severity vulnerability in F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2. 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-863.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.2)
CVSS v2: 6.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (68th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-863
Affected product: F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager
Published: 2021-05-10
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-23015?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2021-23015?: CVE-2021-23015 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-23015 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (68th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-23015?: CVE-2021-23015 primarily affects F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-23015?: 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-2021-23015 published?: CVE-2021-23015 was published on 2021-05-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K74151369

Affected products (14)

cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_analytics:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_acceleration_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_application_security_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ddos_hybrid_defender:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_fraud_protection_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_link_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_local_traffic_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_ssl_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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