Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-46617 affects Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. A malicious TIF image can trigger code execution when a user opens a malicious file or visits a malicious page. This is most urgent for organizations that exchange design files or imagery from external parties.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for engineering and design teams using MicroStation with external file exchange. The vulnerability can lead to full code execution in a user process, but current sources require user interaction and do not document active exploitation.
Technical view
The flaw is in TIF image parsing and is classified as CWE-457, use of uninitialized memory. The published CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8 with local attack vector and required user interaction. Successful exploitation can execute code in the current process context.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to endpoints running Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80, especially workstations handling externally supplied design files, image assets, or web-delivered content.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. Do not treat this as wormable based on current evidence.
Researcher notes
ZDI tracked this as ZDI-CAN-15411 and ZDI-22-204. The affected parser is TIF image handling in Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. Evidence provided does not include exploit availability, patch version details, or confirmed in-the-wild attacks.
Mitigation direction
- Identify any MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 installations.
- Review Bentley advisory BE-2021-0015 for vendor-approved remediation.
- Apply Bentley-provided updates or replacement versions where applicable.
- Limit opening TIF or project files from untrusted sources.
- Use endpoint controls to contain risky file-handling workflows.
Validation and detection
- Inventory MicroStation versions across engineering workstations.
- Confirm whether version 10.16.0.80 is present.
- Check whether Bentley advisory guidance has been applied.
- Review exposure to externally supplied TIF or design files.
- Confirm affected file types are handled in monitored workstations.
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-457: 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-2021-46617 mapping review
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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.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-204/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.bentley.com/en/common-vulnerability-exposure/BE-2021-0015CVE 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 of Uninitialized Variable
Use of Uninitialized Variable represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.