Post-authentication deserialization RCE in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
CVE-2020-17144 is a Microsoft Exchange Server remote code execution vulnerability described in the provided content as a post-authentication deserialization flaw affecting Exchange 2010. The supporting context explicitly compares it to CVE-2018-8302 and CVE-2020-0688 and states that it requires valid login credentials to exploit. The available content does not provide a reliable vulnerable function, code path, or protocol-level trigger for CVE-2020-17144 specifically, but it consistently characterizes the issue as an authenticated unsafe deserialization bug in Microsoft Exchange that can be used to obtain code execution on vulnerable Exchange 2010 servers.
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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.
Mitigation
If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.
Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
2 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository is a C# exploit for CVE-2020-17144, targeting Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. The exploit leverages a deserialization vulnerability in Exchange Web Services (EWS) to write a webshell to the server's autodiscover directory, specifically at 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\ClientAccess\autodiscover\Services.aspx'. The main entry point is 'Program.cs', which takes three arguments: the target Exchange server's domain, a username, and a password. The exploit uses the ysoserial.net gadget chain to generate a malicious serialized payload, which is then uploaded to the server via the EWS API. The default payload writes a simple webshell, but the code can be modified to execute arbitrary commands. The repository includes all necessary code to generate the payload and interact with the Exchange server, and references the Exchange Web Services Managed API. The README provides usage instructions and notes that the exploit requires valid user credentials and an Exchange 2010 environment.
This repository contains a weaponized exploit for CVE-2020-17144, a deserialization vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange 2010's MRM.AutoTag.Model. The main exploit file (CVE-2020-17144.cs) authenticates to the Exchange Web Services endpoint using provided credentials and uploads a malicious configuration containing a serialized payload (compiled from e.cs as e.dll). The payload, when deserialized by Exchange, starts an HTTP listener on port 80 at /ews/soap/. This backdoor allows an attacker to execute arbitrary system commands by sending HTTP requests with a specific query parameter (e.g., http://[target]/ews/soap/?pass=whoami). The repository includes a batch file (make.bat) for building the exploit and payload DLL. The exploit requires valid Exchange credentials and targets Exchange 2010 servers vulnerable to CVE-2020-17144. The structure is straightforward: CVE-2020-17144.cs (exploit logic), e.cs (payload/backdoor), make.bat (build script), and README.md (usage instructions).
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.
Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
8 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A vulnerability listed as one of several publicly available exploits leveraged by Forest Blizzard.
A referenced authenticated deserialization vulnerability affecting Exchange 2010 servers, mentioned only as background comparison for gadget-chain and exploitation discussion.
A Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerability used by the threat actor to help establish persistence and escalate privileges during the intrusion.
A Microsoft Exchange vulnerability used by APT28 via public exploit code to gain execution on vulnerable Exchange servers.
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.