Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2021-26858)
Published Last modified In CISA KEV since Sources: SingCERT, CVE.org
- Actively exploited
- Source: ANSSI / CERT-FR, CSA/SingCERT How we classify
- Ransomware
What is affected, what to do
Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
The vulnerability is being actively exploited; treat it as a priority. CISA lists it as used in ransomware campaigns. Update Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21 to version 15.00.1395.012, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22 to version 15.00.1473.006, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23 to version 15.00.1497.012. Immediate actions, mitigation and detection rules are in the runbook below.
- Affected
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21
lt 15.00.0..15.00.1395.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22
lt 15.00.0..15.00.1473.006 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23
lt 15.00.0..15.00.1497.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 10
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1531.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 11
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1591.018 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 12
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1713.010 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 13
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1779.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 14
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1847.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 15
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1913.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 16
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1979.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 17
lt 15.01.0..15.01.2044.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 18
lt 15.01.0..15.01.2106.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 19
lt 15.01.0..15.01.2176.009 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 8
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1415.010 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 9
lt 15.01.0..15.01.1466.016 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0221.018 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 1
lt 15.02.0..15.01.1979.006 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 2
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0397.011 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 3
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0464.015 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 4
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0659.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 5
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0595.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 6
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0529.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 7
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0721.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 8
lt 15.02.0..15.02.0792.010
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21
- Fixed in
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21
15.00.1395.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22
15.00.1473.006 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23
15.00.1497.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 10
15.01.1531.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 11
15.01.1591.018 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 12
15.01.1713.010 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 13
15.01.1779.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 14
15.01.1847.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 15
15.01.1913.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 16
15.01.1979.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 17
15.01.2044.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 18
15.01.2106.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 19
15.01.2176.009 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 8
15.01.1415.010 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 9
15.01.1466.016 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019
15.02.0221.018 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 1
15.01.1979.006 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 2
15.02.0397.011 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 3
15.02.0464.015 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 4
15.02.0659.012 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 5
15.02.0595.008 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 6
15.02.0529.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 7
15.02.0721.013 - Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 8
15.02.0792.010
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21
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Metrics
7.8
Priority
XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.
Source: NVD, CVSS v3
7.8
CVSS v3
Severity High on the scale from 0 to 10.
Source: SingCERT, CVE.org
93.7 %
EPSS score
High — model estimates ≥ 50% chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days.
Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 99.84
Show all metrics
- Severity
- Critical
Priority (0–325)
The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?
Read in glossary- 243.74 Methodology
Exploit maturity
An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.
Read in glossary- actively exploitedSource: ANSSI / CERT-FR, CSA/SingCERT How we classify
XIEM Effective CVSS
XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.
Read in glossary- 7.8 Methodology
CVSS v3
CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.
Read in glossary- 7.8
EPSS score
The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.
Read in glossary- 93.7 %
- High — model estimates ≥ 50% chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days.
EPSS percentile
The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.
Read in glossary- 99.84
- Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
KEV status
The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.
Read in glossary- Actively exploited
- Published
In CISA KEV since
The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.
Read in glossary- CISA assessment (SSVC)
- Exploitation: active · automatable · Technical impact: total
- Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 12 August 2026
Response and mitigation
Why act now?
Prioritisation rationale
On its own, CVE-2021-26858 requires authentication. In the ProxyLogon chain, however, CVE-2021-26855 supplies that access without credentials, giving full takeover of any network-reachable Exchange server. That is why it ranks among the CVEs most likely to be exploited. CISA flags known ransomware use: following the 2021 mass exploitation, dropped web shells were widely reused for follow-on access, data theft and encryption campaigns, hitting mid-market firms, municipalities and critical-infrastructure operators running on-prem Exchange. Treat any still-unpatched, internet-facing Exchange server as critical and probably already compromised. Patched servers that have never been checked for web shells still deserve high priority; internal-only servers rank medium.
Runbook step 1
Immediate response (0-24 h)
- Check exposure and pull Exchange off the internet: If an on-prem Exchange server publishes OWA/ECP on TCP 443 to the internet and is unpatched, block access at the perimeter now or restrict it to VPN only. CVE-2021-26858 is exploited without prior authentication when chained with CVE-2021-26855 (SSRF) in ProxyLogon.
- Apply the security update: Install Microsoft's March 2021 security update for your CU level. Minimum fixed builds per context:
- Exchange 2013: CU21 → 15.00.1395.012, CU22 → 15.00.1473.006, CU23 → 15.00.1497.012
- Exchange 2016: CU10 → 15.01.1531.012, CU11 → 15.01.1591.018, CU12 → 15.01.1713.010, CU13 → 15.01.1779.008, CU14 → 15.01.1847.012
- Move older CUs to a supported CU first. Look up the KB number in the Microsoft advisory. Verify the build with
Get-ExchangeServer | fl Name,AdminDisplayVersionand theExSetup.exefile version.
- Assume compromise; patching is not enough: The update does not remove web shells already dropped. Run Microsoft's
Test-ProxyLogon.ps1and MSERT, or the Exchange On-premises Mitigation Tool (EOMT), on every Exchange server. - Preserve evidence on any hit: Before cleanup, capture memory, IIS logs, Exchange logs and the web shell files. Network-isolate the host.
- Rotate credentials: On confirmed compromise, rotate Exchange service and admin account passwords and review membership of privileged AD groups. Exchange holds broad AD rights, so assume LSASS dumping occurred.
- Check reporting obligations: For a confirmed incident, prepare the NIS2 early warning to the national CSIRT/BSI within 24 h.
Runbook step 2
Mitigation layers
- Network: Allow inbound HTTPS to Exchange only via a reverse proxy or VPN. Restrict Exchange server egress to what is required (updates, smarthost) to hamper web shell C2 and exfiltration.
- WAF/IIS rewrite (interim): Apply the URL Rewrite rule shipped with EOMT or Microsoft's interim mitigation. It blocks requests carrying the
X-AnonResource-Backendcookie or a malformedX-BEResourcecookie (the CVE-2021-26855 link). Also enable ProxyLogon IPS signatures (Suricata ET "Exchange ProxyLogon"). - Feature reduction: Where feasible, disable the Unified Messaging, ECP and OAB application pools/virtual directories. This is disruptive and meant as a stopgap only.
- Endpoint hardening: Enable the Defender ASR rule "Block Webshell creation for Servers" or the equivalent EDR control. Use AppLocker/WDAC to monitor or block
cmd.exe/powershell.exelaunched as children ofw3wp.exeandUMWorkerProcess.exe. - File system: Put
inetpub\wwwroot\aspnet_client\and...\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\owa\auth\under file integrity monitoring. - Lifecycle: Exchange 2013 and 2016 are out of support. Record migration to a supported version or Exchange Online as a tracked risk item.
Runbook step 3
Detection rules
- OAB generator log (specific to CVE-2021-26858): Search for "Download failed and temporary file". Hits indicate abusive file writes:
findstr /snip /c:"Download failed and temporary file" "%PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\Logging\OABGeneratorLog\*.log"
- Sysmon EID 11 / EDR file create: New
.aspxfiles written byw3wp.exeorUMWorkerProcess.exe.- Sigma shape:
Image|endswith: ['\w3wp.exe','\UMWorkerProcess.exe'] AND TargetFilename|endswith: '.aspx' - Focus on the
aspnet_clientandowa\authpaths.
- Sigma shape:
- Process ancestry (Sysmon EID 1 / Event ID 4688):
w3wp.exe(MSExchange*AppPool) orUMWorkerProcess.exespawningcmd.exe,powershell.exe,net.exeorprocdump. Also watch for handle access tolsass.exe.- KQL:
DeviceProcessEvents | where InitiatingProcessFileName in~ ("w3wp.exe","UMWorkerProcess.exe") and FileName in~ ("cmd.exe","powershell.exe")
- KQL:
- IIS logs: POSTs to
/ecp/*.js(e.g./ecp/y.js) and hits on unfamiliar.aspxunder/owa/auth/or/aspnet_client/. In the HttpProxy logs, look forAnchorMailboxvalues containingServerInfo~. - Network (Zeek/Suricata): Outbound connections from Exchange servers to unknown IPs. Large ZIP/7z archives appearing in web directories also indicate mailbox exfiltration.
- OAB generator log (specific to CVE-2021-26858): Search for "Download failed and temporary file". Hits indicate abusive file writes:
Detection rules
No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.
Classification under NIS2 and CRA
Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.
NIS2
NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.
Read in glossary- Actively exploited: treat the vulnerability as a priority in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2. If it is exploited in your environment, check the reporting obligation under Art. 23 (early warning within 24 hours).
CRA
The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.
Read in glossary- Since 11.09.2026, manufacturers of affected products with digital elements must report actively exploited vulnerabilities under Art. 14 CRA, with an early warning within 24 hours via ENISA's single reporting platform.
ISO/IEC 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.
Read in glossary- Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.
Description
Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Source: CSA/SingCERT, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST), CISA KEV Catalog, CVE.org (MITRE)
Affected products
The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.
| Affected versions | Fixed in | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 10 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 11 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 12 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 13 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 14 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 15 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 16 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 17 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 18 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 19 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 8 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 9 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 1 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 2 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 3 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 4 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 5 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 6 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 7 |
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| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 8 |
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| microsoft | exchange_server |
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Vendors and products
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 10
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 11
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 12
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 13
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 14
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 15
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 16
- Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 17
Public exploit references
Publicly reported proof-of-concepts, exploit modules and detection templates for this vulnerability. NEOSEC links to the original sources only and does not provide any exploit code.
| CISA KEV Catalog | CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability (opens in a new tab)cisa.gov | actively exploited | |
| CSA/SingCERT | Active Exploitation of Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server (opens in a new tab)CSA/SingCERT | actively exploited | |
| ANSSI / CERT-FRLicence Ouverte 2.0, as of | CERTFR-2021-ALE-004 – [MàJ] Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Exchange Server (clôturée 2021-07-16) (opens in a new tab)cert.cyber.gouv.fr | actively exploited |
References & sources
- portal.msrc.microsoft.comen-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- cisa.govknown-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-26858government-resource
- Microsoft Security Update GuideMicrosoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityVendor advisory, Patch
- cert.cyber.gouv.frANSSI / CERT-FR: CERTFR-2021-ALE-004 – [MàJ] Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Exchange Server (clôturée 2021-07-16)cert-fr
Changes to this CVE
Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).
Record modifiedMicrosoft
Show 3 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Reference added —https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-26858Reference removed https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-26858—Reference type removed https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-26858 Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory—Source identifier: secure@microsoft.com
Record modifiedCISA ADP
CISA assessment (SSVC): exploitation: active, automatable: yes
Show 5 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Reference added —https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-26858Reference removed https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-26858—Reference type removed https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-26858 Types: US Government Resource—SSVC assessment removed {"id":"CVE-2021-26858","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2021-03-01T00:00:00+00:00"}—SSVC assessment added —{"id":"CVE-2021-26858","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-08-12T03:55:36.937537Z"}Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Record modifiedCVE Program
Show 3 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Reference added —https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858Reference removed https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858—Reference type removed https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858 Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory—Source identifier: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Record modifiedMicrosoft
Show 4 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Reference added —https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-26858Reference removed https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858—Reference type removed https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-26858 Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory—Affected versions (publisher) changed Microsoft Exchange Server 2019, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22, Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 2 (+21)Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 21, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 22, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23 (+21)Source identifier: secure@microsoft.com
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<a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2021-26858"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2021-26858.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2021-26858 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>