CVE-2026-42406: BIG-IP and BIG-IQ privilege escalation vulnerability
Published May 13, 2026
·Updated
A vulnerability exists in BIG-IP and BIG-IQ systems where a highly privileged, authenticated attacker with at least the Certificate Manager role can modify configuration objects that allow running arbitrary commands. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
Affected Software
87 affected components
F5 Networks BIG-IP
F5 Networks BIG-IQ
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Automation Toolchain>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Automation Toolchain>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 Big-ip Websafe>=17.1.0<=17.1.3
F5 Big-ip Websafe>=17.5.0<=17.5.1
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Automation Toolchain>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 Big-ip Websafe>=16.1.0<=16.1.6
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Analytics=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Automation Toolchain=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Link Controller=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator=21.0.0
F5 Big-ip Websafe=21.0.0
F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management>=8.4.0<=8.4.1
Event History
May 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:12 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:12 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the severity of CVE-2026-42406?
CVE-2026-42406 has a high severity rating of 8.5.
2
How do I fix CVE-2026-42406?
To mitigate CVE-2026-42406, ensure your BIG-IP and BIG-IQ systems are updated to the latest supported software version.
3
Who is affected by CVE-2026-42406?
CVE-2026-42406 affects systems running vulnerable versions of F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ when managed by users with the Certificate Manager role.
4
Can CVE-2026-42406 lead to full system compromise?
Yes, CVE-2026-42406 can be exploited to allow attackers to run arbitrary commands, potentially leading to a full system compromise.
5
What is the nature of the vulnerability in CVE-2026-42406?
CVE-2026-42406 is a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing a highly privileged attacker to modify configuration objects.