Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-49040

Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 … 2019

Published
12 November 2024
Modified
16 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
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:N/I:H/A:N
EPSS Score 0.077 94th percentile
Risk Priority 68 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-49040 is a high-severity User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information (CWE-451) vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Phishing (T1566); ranked in the top 6% 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.

Microsoft Exchange Server is affected by a spoofing vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-49040. The flaw received a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 reflecting a network attack vector that requires no privileges or user interaction and produces a high impact on integrity, and it is catalogued under CWE-451.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can send specially crafted requests to spoof identity or content, thereby altering information processed by the server without any interaction from legitimate users.

The associated EPSS probability rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.1561 on 2025-12-18 before receding to its current value of 0.0539, indicating that exploitation interest emerged after public disclosure. Official mitigation details are provided in the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-49040.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A06:2025 Insecure Design

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Microsoft Exchange Server Spoofing Vulnerability

CWE(s)
CWE-451NVD-CWE-noinfo

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1566 Phishing Initial Access
Adversaries may send phishing messages to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1566.002 Spearphishing Link Initial Access
Adversaries may send spearphishing emails with a malicious link in an attempt to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1566.003 Spearphishing via Service Initial Access
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages via third-party services in an attempt to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1598 Phishing for Information Reconnaissance
Adversaries may send phishing messages to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
attack.mitre.org →
T1598.003 Spearphishing Link Reconnaissance
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages with a malicious link to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
attack.mitre.org →
T1534 Internal Spearphishing Lateral Movement
After they already have access to accounts or systems within the environment, adversaries may use internal spearphishing to gain access to additional information or compromise other users within the same organization.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-64667Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2021-26855Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-36050Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2022-41040Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-35388Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-36745Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2021-26858Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-36756Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2023-38181Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2021-42321Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server

Affected Assets

microsoft
exchange server
2016, 2019

Mitigating Controls

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 SDLC practices directly address design and implementation of accurate, non-spoofable UI elements.

PR.AT-01 partial match
prevents

User awareness training helps people recognize and avoid harm from UI misrepresentation such as phishing, but does not prevent the flaw itself.

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.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing can detect UI misrepresentation vulnerabilities before deployment.

A.6.3 Information security awareness, education and training partial match
prevents

Security awareness training can teach users to recognize UI misrepresentation and phishing attempts.

A.8.23 Web filtering partial match
mitigates

Web filtering can block known phishing sites that exploit UI misrepresentation.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development lifecycle includes UI/UX security requirements that can prevent misrepresentation of critical information.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can mandate proper display and validation of critical information in the UI.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding practices can prevent UI flaws that obscure or spoof critical information.

References