CVE-2018-8581KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

High · published November 14, 2018

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 7.4. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 98.0th percentile for exploit probability.

1680
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.4
EPSS
27%
Percentile
98.0
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky elevation of privilege vulnerability lurks in Microsoft Exchange Server that could let attackers take control of your server! ⚡ Think of it as a waiter who could suddenly access the kitchen and change the entire menu — this vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass restrictions and gain elevated access without proper authorization. This means an attacker could do some absolutely devastating things like read sensitive emails, modify configurations, or even deploy malicious code! The potential for data theft and system compromise is significant, putting your organization at serious risk.

Put simply

Think of it as a waiter who could suddenly access the kitchen and change the entire menu — this vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass restrictions and gain elevated access without proper authorization. The flaw enables attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected instances of Microsoft Exchange Server, allowing unauthorized access to systems and sensitive data due to improper validation of user permissions.

What to do

This means an attacker could do some absolutely devastating things like read sensitive emails, modify configurations, or even deploy malicious code! The potential for data theft and system compromise is significant, putting your organization at serious risk. To protect your server, immediately apply the latest patch from Microsoft, ensure all security settings are configured correctly, and consider reviewing user permissions to minimize exposure. Regularly auditing your system can also help identify potential weak points. You've got this! Stay vigilant, follow these steps, and you’ll keep your systems secure! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.4 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.27355 · 98.0th percentile
Published
2018-11-14T01:00Z
KEV added
2022-03-03 · due 2022-03-17
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 03 MAR 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Mar 17
    kev
  • 14 NOV 01:00Z
    An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server, aka "Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects…
    cvelistv5