# CVE-2022-1388: F5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication

> Attackers can bypass iControl REST authentication on F5 BIG-IP devices via undisclosed requests, requiring an upgrade to secure versions.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 10 May 2022 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 May 2022
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mrph-rvc3-cv97

## What is CVE-2022-1388?

CVE-2022-1388 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 5 May 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-1388?

It affects 11 products.


Products: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-Ip Analytics, F5 Big-Ip Application Acceleration Manager, F5 Big-Ip Application Security Manager, F5 Big-Ip Domain Name System, F5 Big-Ip Fraud Protection Service, F5 Big-Ip Global Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Link Controller, F5 Big-Ip Local Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Policy Enforcement Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-1388?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-1388 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 31 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2022-1388 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-1388 in the wild since at least 10 May 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- POC for CVE-2022-1388 (github_poc): https://github.com/horizon3ai/CVE-2022-1388
- CVE-2022-1388 F5 BIG-IP RCE 批量检测 (github_poc): https://github.com/doocop/CVE-2022-1388-EXP
- F5 BIG-IP RCE exploitation (CVE-2022-1388) (github_poc): https://github.com/alt3kx/CVE-2022-1388_PoC
- CVE-2022-1388 F5 BIG-IP iControl REST Auth Bypass RCE (github_poc): https://github.com/0xf4n9x/CVE-2022-1388
- Exploit and Check Script for CVE 2022-1388 (github_poc): https://github.com/ZephrFish/F5-CVE-2022-1388-Exploit
- PoC for CVE-2022-1388_F5_BIG-IP (github_poc): https://github.com/sherlocksecurity/CVE-2022-1388-Exploit-POC

## Other vulnerabilities in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager

- [CVE-2023-46747](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46747/): F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22986](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22986/): F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22991](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22991/): F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-5902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5902/): F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI) Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-94127](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-94127/): F5 BIG-IP APM Heap-based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-1388 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-1388 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 5 May 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-1388 in the wild since at least 10 May 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-1388/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-1388/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-1388
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1388
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-1388

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-1388/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.