Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-46573 is a code execution flaw in Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. A victim must open a malicious JT file or visit a malicious page. If successful, the attacker’s code runs inside the current MicroStation process, creating serious business risk for design, engineering, and infrastructure teams handling external CAD data.
Executive priority
High priority for organizations using the affected Bentley product in engineering workflows. The flaw is not described as wormable, but successful exploitation could compromise sensitive design data and workstation integrity. Address it through asset discovery, vendor remediation, and tighter handling of external CAD files.
Technical view
The flaw is in JT file parsing and is associated with CWE-416. The parser fails to validate an object exists before operating on it, allowing code execution in the current process. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8 with user interaction required and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 is installed and users receive JT files from clients, partners, suppliers, or web sources. Organizations without this exact version or JT-file workflows have lower indicated exposure based on the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources describe remote attacker potential but require user interaction. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle, and no cited source here confirms active exploitation. Evidence provided does not include exploit availability or patch deployment status.
Researcher notes
ZDI tracked this as ZDI-CAN-15367 and published advisory ZDI-22-160. The source bundle identifies Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 only. Do not broaden affected versions without vendor evidence. Patch details are not present in the supplied text, so rely on Bentley’s advisory for exact remediation.
Mitigation direction
- Check Bentley advisory BE-2021-0005 for supported remediation or upgrade guidance.
- Prioritize removing or updating MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 where found.
- Restrict opening JT files from untrusted or unauthenticated sources.
- Use mail, web, and endpoint controls to quarantine suspicious CAD file attachments.
- Treat externally supplied JT files as high risk until vendor guidance is applied.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Bentley MicroStation CONNECT version 10.16.0.80.
- Identify teams that routinely receive or process JT files.
- Confirm whether Bentley BE-2021-0005 remediation has been applied.
- Review recent security telemetry for suspicious MicroStation child processes or crashes.
- Verify user guidance discourages opening unsolicited CAD files or links.
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-2021-46573 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-22-160/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.