Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-46572 affects Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. A malicious JT file or page could make the application write outside a memory buffer, potentially letting an attacker run code as the user. This is high impact, but exploitation requires user interaction.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority workstation and design-workflow risk, especially in teams exchanging external CAD or JT files. It is not described as actively exploited in the provided sources, but successful exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability on affected user systems.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in JT file parsing in MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. Crafted JT data can corrupt memory beyond an allocated buffer and may allow arbitrary code execution in the current process. CVSS is 7.8 with AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 is installed and users receive, download, review, or open JT files from external parties. Engineering, design, construction, and manufacturing workflows are the likely business contexts.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not indicate active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, reducing wormable risk but leaving phishing and supply-chain file exchange risk.
Researcher notes
The source bundle names the affected version, vulnerability class, attack precondition, impact, CVSS vector, and ZDI identifier ZDI-CAN-15366. It does not provide exploit indicators or detailed fixed-version information in the included text, so validation should rely on product inventory and Bentley’s advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Check Bentley advisory BE-2021-0005 for vendor remediation and upgrade guidance.
- Prioritize updating or retiring MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 installations.
- Warn users not to open untrusted JT files or project files from unknown sources.
- Restrict JT file intake from email, web downloads, and unmanaged collaboration channels.
- Use endpoint controls to reduce impact if MicroStation is abused for code execution.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Bentley MicroStation CONNECT version 10.16.0.80.
- Confirm whether users process JT files from customers, vendors, or public sources.
- Verify vendor guidance has been applied to affected installations.
- Review security tooling for alerts involving MicroStation opening unexpected files.
- Document remaining vulnerable systems and compensating controls.
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-787: 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-2021-46572 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-22-159/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.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.