Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-46567 is a high-severity code execution flaw in Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. A victim must open a malicious JT file or visit a malicious page. Successful exploitation could let attacker-controlled code run with the affected user's privileges.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term remediation item for engineering and design teams using the affected MicroStation release. It is not confirmed as actively exploited, but malicious file handling can create business disruption and workstation compromise.
Technical view
The flaw is in JT file parsing. The parser does not validate that an object exists before operating on it, producing a use-after-free condition tracked as CWE-416 and ZDI-CAN-15028. CVSS is 7.8 because exploitation can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability in the current process context.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments running Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80, particularly users who handle externally supplied JT files or open design content from untrusted sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires user interaction, but the impact is serious because crafted JT content can lead to code execution.
Researcher notes
Analysis is constrained to the provided CVE, Bentley, and ZDI references. The bundle names one affected version and does not provide detailed patch version evidence, so remediation should be verified directly against Bentley advisory BE-2021-0005.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Bentley MicroStation CONNECT installations and identify version 10.16.0.80.
- Review Bentley advisory BE-2021-0005 for vendor-supported remediation.
- Apply the Bentley-recommended fixed version or workaround if provided by the vendor.
- Restrict opening JT files from untrusted sources until remediation is confirmed.
- Use least-privilege user accounts for MicroStation workflows.
Validation and detection
- Confirm affected hosts are running MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 or another vendor-listed affected build.
- Check whether Bentley BE-2021-0005 remediation has been applied.
- Review workflows where JT files enter from email, web downloads, vendors, or customers.
- Validate endpoint controls monitor MicroStation process behavior and suspicious child activity.
- Confirm users handling JT files understand temporary restrictions on untrusted content.
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.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution 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-2021-46567 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 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.bentley.com/en/common-vulnerability-exposure/BE-2021-0005CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-154/CVE 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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.