CVE-2018-8581
Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- High 7.4
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 3 Mar 2022
- Used in ransomware campaigns
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server, aka "Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Exchange Server.
Key facts
- Published
- 14 Nov 2018
- Last changed
- 21 Oct 2025
- Assigned by
- microsoft
- KEV added
- 3 Mar 2022
- KEV fix due
- 17 Mar 2022
- Used in ransomware
- Yes, according to CISA
- EPSS
- 27.558% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 98.105% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
- SSVC (CISA)
- Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total
Severity scores
Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.
- 7.4CVSS 3.1, Highfrom CISA (ADP container)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
What to do
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft Exchange Server |
|
Timeline
- 14 Nov 2018 Published
- 3 Mar 2022 CVE-2018-8581 added to CISA KEV
- 3 Mar 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue