Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-21761

SSRF in Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 … 2019

Published
10 January 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 7.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.016 73th percentile
Risk Priority 68 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-21761 is a high-severity SSRF (CWE-918) vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 27% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-21761 is an information disclosure vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, assigned a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5. The flaw is reachable over the network without authentication or user interaction and results in high confidentiality impact while leaving integrity and availability unaffected. It is tracked under CWE-918, indicating a server-side request forgery class issue.

An unauthenticated attacker can send crafted requests to an affected Exchange Server and obtain sensitive information that would otherwise be inaccessible. Because the attack requires no credentials and can be performed remotely, the vulnerability is exploitable by any party able to reach the server on the network.

Microsoft has published an advisory for CVE-2023-21761 that directs administrators to the corresponding security update. The EPSS score for this CVE has remained flat at 0.1307 since disclosure, indicating no material increase in observed exploitation interest.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Microsoft Exchange Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2021-26855Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2022-41040Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2021-34473Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45502Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45504Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2021-27065Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-38185Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-36050Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-35388Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-36745Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server

Affected Assets

microsoft
exchange server
2016, 2019

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.3.6
  • V1.5.3
  • V5.3.2
  • V10.4.7

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-918

Penetration testing attempts server-side requests to internal resources, identifying SSRF weaknesses for remediation.

addresses: CWE-918

Outbound connections to external resources can be monitored and limited at the boundary, reducing SSRF impact.

addresses: CWE-918

Validates server-side URLs and resource references to block SSRF attempts.

addresses: CWE-918

Detects server-side request forgery through monitoring of unexpected outbound connections.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure development practices directly include input validation and destination allow-listing that prevent SSRF.

DE.CM-09 partial match
prevents

Runtime monitoring of web applications and services can detect anomalous outbound requests indicative of SSRF.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes can discover and record SSRF flaws in web applications.

PR.IR-01 partial match
prevents

Network segmentation and egress controls can limit the damage from successful SSRF requests.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Operational threat data describing SSRF campaigns can be used to tighten outbound-request allow-lists and detection rules before attackers exploit them.

References