CVE-2021-23040Network attack vector

Authenticated SQL injection through Configuration utility page

Published Sep 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

SQL injection in F5 Networks BIG-IP AFM allows remote authenticated users to submit SQL through the Configuration utility. An undisclosed page fails to neutralize untrusted request data before a database operation, but F5 has not disclosed the page, parameter, or resulting changes. Exposure requires provisioned AFM; affected releases are 12.1.x, 13.1.x before 13.1.4.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, and 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

SQL injection in F5 Networks BIG-IP AFM allows remote authenticated users to submit SQL through the Configuration utility. An undisclosed page fails to neutralize untrusted request data before a database operation, but F5 has not disclosed the page, parameter, or resulting changes. Exposure requires provisioned AFM; affected releases are 12.1.x, 13.1.x before 13.1.4.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, and 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23040
Published
Sep 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager
Classifications
CWE-89
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 13.1.x before 13.1.4.1, and all versions of 12.1.x

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Managerversion=16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.2, 13.1.x before 13.1.4.1, and all versions of 12.1.x

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo