CVE-2021-23049Network attack vector

Denial of service via TMM memory exhaustion

Published Sep 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Resource exhaustion in F5 Networks BIG-IP 15.1.x and 16.0.x allows remote attackers to interrupt service through affected virtual servers. When an iRule invokes RESOLVER::summarize, certain undisclosed requests drive TMM memory utilization to an out-of-memory condition; F5 has not disclosed the request format or exact memory-management fault. Exposure requires the command on a virtual server running 15.1.x before 15.1.3 or 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, and exhaustion halts traffic processing.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource exhaustion in F5 Networks BIG-IP 15.1.x and 16.0.x allows remote attackers to interrupt service through affected virtual servers. When an iRule invokes RESOLVER::summarize, certain undisclosed requests drive TMM memory utilization to an out-of-memory condition; F5 has not disclosed the request format or exact memory-management fault. Exposure requires the command on a virtual server running 15.1.x before 15.1.3 or 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, and exhaustion halts traffic processing.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23049
Published
Sep 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
BIG-IP
Classifications
CWE-400, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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

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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=16.0.x before 16.0.1.2 and 15.1.x before 15.1.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · BIG-IPversion=16.0.x before 16.0.1.2 and 15.1.x before 15.1.3

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-400Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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