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CVE Record

CVE-2021-43209: 3D Viewer Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

3D Viewer Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a high-severity Microsoft 3D Viewer flaw that could let an attacker run code after user interaction. Business risk is mainly endpoint compromise where the vulnerable app is installed and users open unsafe content. The bundle does not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation in normal high-severity endpoint patch cycles, faster for teams handling external files. The issue is serious, but available evidence does not support emergency treatment based on active exploitation.

Technical view

CVE-2021-43209 affects Microsoft 3D Viewer version 7.0.0. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated high.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to endpoints with Microsoft 3D Viewer 7.0.0 installed. Risk increases where users can receive or open untrusted 3D content. The bundle does not identify affected Windows versions or broader product versions.

Exploitation context

The provided CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires user interaction and no privileges. KEV is false, and the bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation. Treat exploit status as unconfirmed unless Microsoft, ZDI, or CISA later state otherwise.

Researcher notes

The bundle lacks root-cause detail, affected file formats, and exact fixed build information. Validation should stay inventory-driven and advisory-driven. Do not assume exploitability beyond the CVSS requirements and ZDI/MSRC references.

Mitigation direction

  • Follow Microsoft guidance for CVE-2021-43209.
  • Update or remove Microsoft 3D Viewer where version 7.0.0 is present.
  • Restrict opening untrusted 3D files until remediated.
  • Prioritize managed Windows endpoints and shared workstations.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for superseding guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory endpoints for Microsoft 3D Viewer 7.0.0.
  • Confirm update status against Microsoft advisory guidance.
  • Check software deployment logs for remediation completion.
  • Review email and web controls for risky file delivery paths.
  • Verify no exception keeps the vulnerable version installed.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

description · low confidence lookup

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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-43209 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9microsoft

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-43209Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Microsoft3D Viewer7.0.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.