# CVE-2022-1388: BIG-IP - Authentication Bypass

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2022-1388 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-1388

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** F5 BIG-IP
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function)
- **Tags:** firewall

## Description

On F5 BIG-IP 16.1.x versions prior to 16.1.2.2, 15.1.x versions prior to 15.1.5.1, 14.1.x versions prior to 14.1.4.6, 13.1.x versions prior to 13.1.5, and all 12.1.x and 11.6.x versions, undisclosed requests may bypass iControl REST authentication. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2022-1388](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2022-1388) is a critical vulnerability in F5 BIG-IP that enables attackers to bypass iControl REST authentication through specially crafted requests, potentially leading to remote code execution on affected systems.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 1st of April 2025.

CrowdSec network data shows that most actors exploiting CVE-2022-1388 rely on broad, untargeted scans with minimal filtering. The activity is largely automated and opportunistic in nature.
Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2022-1388 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2022-1388 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Exploitation attempts are generally focused on requests to the `/mgmt/tm/util/bash` endpoint.

## Timeline

- 2022-05-05: CVE Published. CVE-2022-1388 is published to NVD.
- 2022-05-10: CISA KEV. CVE-2022-1388 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2022-05-31: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-04-01: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2022-1388 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-04-01: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2022-1388 for the first time.

## References

- https://www.secpod.com/blog/critical-f5-big-ip-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-patch-now/
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2022/CVE-2022-1388.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-1388) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2022-1388. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.