# CVE-2018-8581: Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation

> An attacker can elevate privileges on Microsoft Exchange Server, potentially gaining unauthorized administrative control over the email system.

- **Severity:** High 7.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h9jh-6fmr-vvc6

## What is CVE-2018-8581?

CVE-2018-8581 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, published on 14 Nov 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server, aka "Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Exchange Server.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-8581?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Exchange Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-8581?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-8581 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 17 Mar 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-8581 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-8581 in the wild since at least 3 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2018-8581 (github_poc): https://github.com/Ridter/Exchange2domain
- CVE-2018-8581 | Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (github_poc): https://github.com/WyAtu/CVE-2018-8581
- CVE-2018-8581 (github_poc): https://github.com/qiantu88/CVE-2018-8581

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server

- [CVE-2024-21410](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21410/): Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-34473](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34473/): Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-26855](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26855/): Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-34523](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34523/): Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-21529](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21529/): Microsoft Exchange Server Deserialization of Untrusted Data (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-8581 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-8581 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, published on 14 Nov 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-8581 in the wild since at least 3 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: Microsoft Exchange Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8581/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8581/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8581
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8581
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-8581

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8581/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.