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HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

IdentifiersCVE-2021-31196CWE-327

CVE-2021-31196 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. Microsoft classified it as Important severity and assigned CVSS 3.0 7.2 with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating the issue is reachable over the network, requires low attack complexity and no user interaction, but does require high privileges. The provided content does not identify the specific vulnerable component or function within Exchange Server, so more granular technical details are currently not available.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can result in remote code execution on the affected Microsoft Exchange Server. Based on the CVSS metrics provided by Microsoft, the resulting impact can be high across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure of Exchange Server to untrusted networks, restrict and monitor privileged access to Exchange administrative functionality, and increase detection coverage for suspicious activity on Exchange hosts. However, the provided content does not include Microsoft-specific workaround guidance for this CVE, so definitive mitigation steps beyond patching are not available from the supplied data.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Microsoft's official security update for CVE-2021-31196 via the MSRC Security Update Guide and ensure affected Exchange Server installations are updated to the vendor-fixed version. The content confirms that an official fix was available from Microsoft.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.

VALID 1 / 1 TOTALView more in app
ProxyVulnsMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains operational exploit scripts for multiple high-profile Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities: ProxyLogon (CVE-2021-26855, etc.), ProxyOracle (CVE-2021-31196), and ProxyShell (CVE-2021-34473, CVE-2021-31207). The structure includes four main Python scripts: - 26855.py: Implements the ProxyLogon exploit chain, culminating in the upload of a JScript webshell (api.aspx) to the Exchange server by abusing the OAB virtual directory. It automates the process of obtaining necessary tokens and SIDs, and provides a final webshell URL for remote code execution. - 31196.py: Implements the ProxyOracle padding oracle attack, allowing extraction of plaintext credentials from encrypted session cookies by exploiting a padding oracle vulnerability in OWA. It requires a valid 'cadata' cookie and outputs the decrypted username and password. - 34473.py: Implements the ProxyShell exploit chain, allowing remote PowerShell command execution on the Exchange server. It automates the process of obtaining a valid CommonAccessToken and then uses pypsrp to execute arbitrary PowerShell scripts remotely. - 31207.py: Works with 34473.py to deliver arbitrary files (e.g., malicious PDFs) to user mailboxes and then exports mailbox contents to a specified UNC path, leveraging Exchange's mailbox export features. A users.txt file provides a list of default or known usernames to assist in the exploitation process. The README.md gives usage instructions and references for each exploit. The scripts are operational and automate the full exploitation process, including credential extraction, webshell upload, remote command execution, and file delivery. The main attack vector is network-based, targeting exposed Exchange web services (ECP, OWA, Autodiscover, EWS, and PowerShell endpoints).

hosch3nDisclosed Apr 14, 2021pythonnetwork
EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Microsoft CorporationExchange Serverapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware1

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.