CVE-2021-23023

Privilege escalation via cachecleaner DLL hijacking

Published Jun 10, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

DLL hijacking in F5 BIG-IP Edge Client for Windows 7.1.x and 7.2.1.x allows local users to elevate privileges. F5 identifies cachecleaner.dll as the affected component but does not disclose the searched path, library name, or installer action that triggers the unsafe load. Affected releases are 7.2.1.x before 7.2.1.3 and 7.1.x before 7.1.9.9 Update 1, and exploitation requires user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL hijacking in F5 BIG-IP Edge Client for Windows 7.1.x and 7.2.1.x allows local users to elevate privileges. F5 identifies cachecleaner.dll as the affected component but does not disclose the searched path, library name, or installer action that triggers the unsafe load. Affected releases are 7.2.1.x before 7.2.1.3 and 7.1.x before 7.1.9.9 Update 1, and exploitation requires user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23023
Published
Jun 10, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP Edge Client
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.2.1.x before 7.2.1.3 and 7.1.x before 7.1.9.9 Update 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IP Edge Clientversion=7.2.1.x before 7.2.1.3 and 7.1.x before 7.1.9.9 Update 1

Published CVSS scores

6.9NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.002DLL Side-Loading

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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