CVE-2022-1388
CVE-2022-1388 is a security flaw in F5 BIG-IP, equipment big companies use to route traffic to their websites and apps. Attackers can run their own code on F5 BIG-IP. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 May 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
F5 BIG-IP is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 16.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, 14.1.4.6 and 13.1.5 of BIG-IP.
Description
CISA calls it a missing authentication in F5 BIG-IP. In its words: “F5 BIG-IP contains a missing authentication in critical function vulnerability which can allow for remote code execution, creation or deletion of files, or disabling services.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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”[2]
The underlying weakness is missing authentication (CWE-306), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| BIG-IP | 16.1.2.2 |
| BIG-IP | 15.1.5.1 |
| BIG-IP | 14.1.4.6 |
| BIG-IP | 13.1.5 |
Most families won’t have F5 BIG-IP; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 May 2022, 5 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 31 May 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at over 99%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
F5 has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.F5 BIG-IP is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 16.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, 14.1.4.6 and 13.1.5 of BIG-IP), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 31 May 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at over 99%.[4] |
See also
Other F5 BIG-IP flaws
- CVE-2025-53521: stack-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2020-5902: traffic management user interface (TMUI) remote code execution ·
Other F5 flaws
- CVE-2026-94127, F5 BIG-IP APM: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2023-46748, F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2023-46747, F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-22991, F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2021-22986, F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management: icontrol REST remote code execution ·
Other missing authentication flaws
- CVE-2026-111357, Ivanti Connect Secure: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-67277, MikroTik RouterOS: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-81578, PaperCut NG/MF: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-72529, TrueConf Server: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-56164, Microsoft SharePoint Server: missing authentication for critical function ·
Every F5 flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “F5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 May 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-1388 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 5 May 2022.
- ^ F5. Advisories and fixes: support.f5.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 1.000, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-1388”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.