Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-55005

Memory Safety in Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 … 2019

Published
14 July 2026
Modified
24 July 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0066 48th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-55005 is a high-severity Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122) vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 48th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-6 (Least Privilege) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Exchange Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

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.
Why these techniques?

Heap buffer overflow enabling remote code execution on Microsoft Exchange Server directly maps to exploitation of a public-facing application over the network.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-45500Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45502Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45503Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45583Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-45501Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-42897Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-55008Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2025-64666Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-47631Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2026-21527Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server

Affected Assets

microsoft
exchange server
2016, 2019
microsoft
exchange server subscription edition
≤ 15.02.2562.045

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • SI-10 Information Input Validation
  • AC-6 Least Privilege
  • SI-2 Flaw Remediation
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.4.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly enforces input validation to block the malformed data that triggers the heap buffer overflow (CWE-122).

prevent

Restricts the privileges of the authorized attacker, limiting the ability to achieve remote code execution even if the overflow succeeds.

prevent

Requires timely application of vendor patches that eliminate the buffer-overflow flaw in Exchange Server.

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 full match
prevents

Secure-development practices directly require bounds checking and safe memory handling that prevent heap overflows.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover heap-overflow flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Timely patching removes known heap-overflow instances after they exist.

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.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect heap overflows before release.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates practices that reduce the likelihood of introducing heap overflows.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory APIs that mitigate heap overflows.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles include memory-safety and input-validation controls that address heap overflows.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly prescribe techniques (safe functions, bounds checks) that prevent heap-based buffer overflows.

none

Change management ensures controlled deployment of fixes for discovered heap-overflow vulnerabilities.

References