CVE-2021-1730 : What You Need to Know

A spoofing vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server that could be exploited by a malicious actor to impersonate a user. This CVE was published on February 25, 2021, by Microsoft.

Understanding CVE-2021-1730

This section will provide an overview of CVE-2021-1730 and its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-1730?

CVE-2021-1730 is a spoofing vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 7 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 18. It allows attackers to impersonate users.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1730

The vulnerability can lead to impersonation attacks where malicious actors pretend to be legitimate users, potentially causing data breaches and unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1730

Let's delve deeper into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server can be exploited by attackers to spoof user identities, posing a significant threat to the security and integrity of the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 7 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 18 on x64-based systems with specific versions are affected by this spoofing vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to impersonate users and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources within the Exchange Server.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here, we will discuss immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to safeguard against CVE-2021-1730.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to follow Microsoft's guidance on downloading inline images from different DNS domains than the rest of OWA for enhanced security.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should prioritize regular security updates, conduct security training and awareness programs for users, and implement robust access controls.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to promptly apply security patches and updates released by Microsoft to address CVE-2021-1730 and prevent potential spoofing attacks on Microsoft Exchange Server.