CVE-2018-8581
Microsoft Exchange Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Published Nov 13, 2018 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · microsoft exchange server · evidence confidence very high
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could attempt to impersonate any other user of the Exchange server.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2018-8581 is a high public vulnerability record for microsoft exchange server. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether microsoft exchange server is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: microsoft/exchange server (2010); microsoft/exchange server (2013); microsoft/exchange server (2016); microsoft/exchange server (2019). Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: CVSS 7.4, EPSS 27.4%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Mar 3, 2022. Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Patch and remediation
Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA due date Mar 17, 2022.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Nov 13, 2018 · Catalog
Detected
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could attempt to impersonate any other user of the Exchange server.
Mar 3, 2022 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Mar 17, 2022 · CISA KEV
Remediation due
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog
Updated
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could attempt to impersonate any other user of the Exchange server.
Affected
- cpe microsoft/exchange server2010
- cpe microsoft/exchange server2013
- cpe microsoft/exchange server2016
- cpe microsoft/exchange server2019
- vendor Microsoft Exchange Serverversion unspecified
Sources
- CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2018-8581
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could attempt to impersonate any other user of the Exchange server.
cisa.gov - CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2018-8581
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2018-8581
30-day exploitation probability 27.4%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2018-8581
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server, aka "Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Exchange Server.
nvd.nist.gov