CVE-2022-41040 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Exchange Server, which can lead to an elevation of privilege for an attacker. This vulnerability impacts various versions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, 2016, and 2019 with specific cumulative updates. An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to interact with the Exchange Powershell backend and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target server. It is essential to apply security updates and follow mitigation guidance to protect affected systems from this vulnerability.

How do I know if I'm affected?

To determine if you're affected by the vulnerability, you'll need to check if you're using one of the impacted versions of Microsoft Exchange Server. The affected versions include Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 (cumulative\_update\_23), Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 (cumulative\_update\_22, cumulative\_update\_23), and Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 (cumulative\_update\_11, cumulative\_update\_12). If you're using one of these versions, it's crucial to apply the necessary security updates to protect your system from potential attacks.

What should I do if I'm affected?

If you're affected by the CVE-2022-41040 vulnerability, follow these simple steps:

1. Check if you're using Microsoft Exchange Online; if so, no action is needed.

2. For Exchange Server customers, review and apply the mitigation instructions in the Microsoft Security Update Guide.

3. Stay alert for any new advisories or patches from Microsoft.

4. Implement third-party web application protection and limit outgoing connections from the Exchange Mailbox server.

Is this in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog?

The CVE-2022-41040 vulnerability is indeed listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. The vulnerability, named "Microsoft Exchange Server Server-Side Request Forgery Vulnerability," was added to the catalog on September 30, 2022, with a due date of October 21, 2022. The required action is to apply updates according to the vendor's instructions. In simpler terms, this means that the vulnerability has been exploited in the past, and it's crucial to apply the necessary updates to protect your system.

Weakness enumeration

The weakness enumeration for this vulnerability is categorized as CWE-918, which is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) issue that allows an attacker to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code on affected Microsoft Exchange Servers.

For more details

CVE-2022-41040 vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected Microsoft Exchange Server configurations. To gain a deeper understanding of the vulnerability, including its description, severity, technical details, and known affected software configurations, we recommend visiting the NVD page or the links below.

• Microsoft Exchange ProxyNotShell Remote Code Execution

• CVE-2022-41040 - Security Update Guide

• VU#915563 - Microsoft Exchange vulnerable to SSRF and remote code execution

• Microsoft November 2022 Patch Tuesday fixes 65 vulnerabilities!