Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-31942 is a high-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft 3D Viewer. The source data indicates user interaction is required, but no privileges are needed. Successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the user’s system.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint patching issue, especially for fleets where 3D Viewer is present. It is serious because impact is high, but urgency is moderated by required user interaction and no cited active exploitation.
Technical view
The CVSS 3.1 vector is 7.8 high: AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The listed affected product is Microsoft 3D Viewer version 7.0.0. The record names remote code execution but does not provide root cause details.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on endpoints where Microsoft 3D Viewer 7.0.0 is installed or available to users. The vector is local with required user interaction; the source bundle does not indicate a remotely reachable service exposure.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks this CVE as not in CISA KEV. CVSS exploit maturity is listed as unproven. There is no cited evidence here of active exploitation, public exploit use, or weaponized campaigns.
Researcher notes
The available source bundle is sparse: no CWE, root cause, attack file type, or detailed fix package is included. Analysis should stay anchored to MSRC and CVE records before asserting exploit mechanics or specific remediation artifacts.
Mitigation direction
- Review Microsoft MSRC guidance for CVE-2021-31942 and apply the applicable update.
- Inventory endpoints for Microsoft 3D Viewer version 7.0.0.
- Remove or disable 3D Viewer where it is not business-required.
- Limit opening untrusted 3D content until remediation is confirmed.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Microsoft 3D Viewer 7.0.0 exists on managed endpoints.
- Check patch management records against Microsoft guidance for CVE-2021-31942.
- Verify remediated systems no longer report the vulnerable 3D Viewer version.
- Review endpoint alerts for suspicious activity around 3D Viewer process execution.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-31942 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-31942CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.