{"identifier":"CVE-2025-53521","cve":{"id":"CVE-2025-53521","description":"When a BIG-IP APM access policy is configured on a virtual server, specific malicious traffic can lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE).  \n\nNote: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.","published":"2025-10-15T14:15:48.377000+00:00","modified":"2026-10-08T12:10:00.217000+00:00","status":"Analyzed","score":9.3,"severity":"CRITICAL","vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X","cvss_version":"4.0","affected":[{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"15.1.0","versionStartExcluding":"","versionEndIncluding":"","versionEndExcluding":"15.1.10.8"},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"16.1.0","versionStartExcluding":"","versionEndIncluding":"","versionEndExcluding":"16.1.6.1"},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"17.1.0","versionStartExcluding":"","versionEndIncluding":"","versionEndExcluding":"17.1.3"},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"17.5.0","versionStartExcluding":"","versionEndIncluding":"","versionEndExcluding":"17.5.1.3"}],"weaknesses":["CWE-121"],"references":[{"url":"https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000156741","source":"f5sirt@f5.com","tags":["Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-53521","source":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","tags":["US Government Resource"]}],"kev":{"cveID":"CVE-2025-53521","vendorProject":"F5","product":"BIG-IP","vulnerabilityName":"F5 BIG-IP Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability","dateAdded":"2026-03-27","shortDescription":"F5 BIG-IP APM contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that could allow a threat actor to achieve remote code execution.","requiredAction":"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.","dueDate":"2026-03-30","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown","forensicTriage":"No","notes":"Please adhere to F5’s guidelines to assess exposure and mitigate risks. Check for signs of potential compromise on all internet accessible F5 products affected by this vulnerability. For more information please see: https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000156741 ; https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000160486 ; https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K11438344 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53521","cwes":["CWE-121"]},"kev_checked":true,"metrics":{"cvssMetricV40":[{"source":"f5sirt@f5.com","type":"Secondary","cvssData":{"version":"4.0","vectorString":"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X","baseScore":9.3,"baseSeverity":"CRITICAL","attackVector":"NETWORK","attackComplexity":"LOW","attackRequirements":"NONE","privilegesRequired":"NONE","userInteraction":"NONE","vulnConfidentialityImpact":"HIGH","vulnIntegrityImpact":"HIGH","vulnAvailabilityImpact":"HIGH","subConfidentialityImpact":"NONE","subIntegrityImpact":"NONE","subAvailabilityImpact":"NONE","exploitMaturity":"NOT_DEFINED","confidentialityRequirement":"NOT_DEFINED","integrityRequirement":"NOT_DEFINED","availabilityRequirement":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedAttackVector":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedAttackComplexity":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedAttackRequirements":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedPrivilegesRequired":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedUserInteraction":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedSubIntegrityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact":"NOT_DEFINED","Safety":"NOT_DEFINED","Automatable":"NOT_DEFINED","Recovery":"NOT_DEFINED","valueDensity":"NOT_DEFINED","vulnerabilityResponseEffort":"NOT_DEFINED","providerUrgency":"NOT_DEFINED"}}],"cvssMetricV31":[{"source":"f5sirt@f5.com","type":"Secondary","cvssData":{"version":"3.1","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","baseScore":9.8,"baseSeverity":"CRITICAL","attackVector":"NETWORK","attackComplexity":"LOW","privilegesRequired":"NONE","userInteraction":"NONE","scope":"UNCHANGED","confidentialityImpact":"HIGH","integrityImpact":"HIGH","availabilityImpact":"HIGH"},"exploitabilityScore":3.9,"impactScore":5.9}],"ssvcV203":[{"source":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","ssvcData":{"timestamp":"2026-03-28T03:55:47.100165Z","id":"CVE-2025-53521","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","version":"2.0.3"}}]},"configurations":[{"nodes":[{"operator":"OR","negate":false,"cpeMatch":[{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"15.1.0","versionEndExcluding":"15.1.10.8","matchCriteriaId":"A7A0C1CA-EDEF-463F-B7C8-8B9E67239FC1"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"16.1.0","versionEndExcluding":"16.1.6.1","matchCriteriaId":"6494E2A7-1473-46C0-97F8-90827D9466AA"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"17.1.0","versionEndExcluding":"17.1.3","matchCriteriaId":"96D35435-27A7-4A88-9432-1F5AB0112B8C"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"17.5.0","versionEndExcluding":"17.5.1.3","matchCriteriaId":"252ED1A4-5F29-4440-B1BA-9621E6791812"}]}]}],"source":"nvd","retrieved_at":"2026-10-28T16:19:15.671649+00:00","exploited":true,"kev_stale":false,"products":["f5 / big-ip access policy manager"],"priority":{"label":"Known exploitation: prioritize review","reasons":["CISA KEV lists real-world exploitation."]},"epss":{"probability":0.02295,"percentile":0.83195,"date":"2026-10-28","stale":false},"version_assessment":null},"news":[],"campaigns":[],"domains":[{"domain":"my.f5.com","source_url":"https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000156741","investigate_url":"https://investigate.aeglixmind.com/#my.f5.com"},{"domain":"www.cisa.gov","source_url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-53521","investigate_url":"https://investigate.aeglixmind.com/#www.cisa.gov"}],"arsenal_url":"https://arsenal.aeglixmind.com/?cve=CVE-2025-53521","catalog_url":"https://cves.aeglixmind.com/cve/CVE-2025-53521","research_url":"https://investigate.aeglixmind.com/research/cve/CVE-2025-53521","coverage":{"news_candidates_checked":0,"campaign_candidates_checked":0,"bounded":false,"notice":"Exact CVE mentions in stored public excerpts and reviewed campaign content only. A mention is not proof of exploitation, attribution or tool suitability. Missing matches do not establish absence."}}