CVE-2022-41080
CVE-2022-41080 is a security flaw in Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft’s email server, which companies run for their staff’s mail. Attackers can run their own code on Microsoft Exchange Server. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Jan 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Microsoft Exchange Server is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 15.00.1497.044, 15.01.2375.037, 15.01.2507.016 and 15.02.0986.036 and others.
Description
CISA calls it a privilege escalation in Microsoft Exchange Server. In its words: “Microsoft Exchange Server contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation. This vulnerability is chainable with CVE-2022-41082, which allows for remote code execution.”[1]
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23 | 15.00.1497.044 |
| Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 22 | 15.01.2375.037 |
| Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 23 | 15.01.2507.016 |
| Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 11 | 15.02.0986.036 |
| Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 12 | 15.02.1118.020 |
Most families won’t have Microsoft Exchange Server; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Jan 2023, 62 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 31 Jan 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 77%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Microsoft Exchange Server is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 15.00.1497.044, 15.01.2375.037, 15.01.2507.016 and 15.02.0986.036 and others), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 31 Jan 2023 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 77%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft Exchange Server flaws
- CVE-2023-21529: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2021-31196: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2024-21410: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2022-41082: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-41040: server-side request forgery ·
- CVE-2018-8581: privilege escalation ·
Other Microsoft flaws
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-81963, Microsoft Windows: link following ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2026-111357, Ivanti Connect Secure: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-97229, GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition: integer overflow or wraparound ·
- CVE-2026-76418, Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Cisco Secure FTD Software: unchecked return value to NULL pointer dereference ·
- CVE-2026-48356, Adobe Commerce and Magento: unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type ·
- CVE-2026-111497, Google Brotli: unchecked return value ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-21674, Microsoft Windows: advanced local procedure call (ALPC) privilege escalation ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in January 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Jan 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-41080 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com, msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.773, percentile 99.6, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-41080”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.