CVE-2021-34470 : What You Need to Know

On July 13, 2021, Microsoft identified and published details about the 'Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability.' This CVE, with a CVSS base score of 8.0, poses a high severity threat to systems running affected versions of Microsoft Exchange Server.

Understanding CVE-2021-34470

This section delves deeper into the specifics of the CVE, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-34470?

CVE-2021-34470 is an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability that affects Microsoft Exchange Server, allowing threat actors to gain elevated privileges on the system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-34470

With a CVSS base score of 8.0 (HIGH), this vulnerability can be exploited to escalate privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, and other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-34470

Here we explore the vulnerability description, affected systems, and how threat actors can exploit this security flaw.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability resides in Microsoft Exchange Server and specifically targets systems running Cumulative Updates 23, 10, and 21 for versions 2013, 2019, and 2016, respectively.

Affected Systems and Versions

This vulnerability impacts x64-based systems running specific versions of Microsoft Exchange Server, as detailed above.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the affected Exchange Servers.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-34470, immediate steps should be taken, followed by long-term security practices and ensuring timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations are advised to apply security patches provided by Microsoft, restrict network access, and monitor for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust access controls, conduct regular security assessments, and educate users about phishing and social engineering.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update and patch Microsoft Exchange Servers to ensure vulnerabilities are addressed to prevent exploitation.