Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious BMP image can cause Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 to run attacker-controlled code if a user opens a crafted file or visits a malicious page. This mainly threatens engineering workstations handling untrusted project files or images.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority where MicroStation 10.16.0.80 is used on business-critical design workstations. It is not reported as actively exploited in the provided sources, but successful exploitation could compromise sensitive project files and workstation integrity.
Technical view
CVE-2021-46647 is a CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow in MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 BMP image parsing. The flaw is improper validation of user-supplied length before copying into a heap buffer, enabling code execution in the current process after user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations running Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80, especially users who receive external drawings, image assets, or project files that may trigger BMP parsing.
Exploitation context
The sources describe remote code execution with required user interaction. The CVSS vector is local with no privileges required and user interaction required. The bundle states KEV is false, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
ZDI tracked this as ZDI-CAN-15533 and ZDI-22-234. Analysis should focus on BMP parsing paths, heap copy length validation, and user-assisted file handling. The prompt bundle does not provide a specific fixed version or exploit-in-the-wild evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and prioritize systems running MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80.
- Review Bentley BE-2021-0002 for the vendor-approved update or workaround.
- Reduce opening of untrusted BMP images and design files on affected workstations.
- Use email, web, and file controls to block suspicious engineering file delivery.
- Run MicroStation with least-privileged user accounts where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed MicroStation versions across engineering and design workstations.
- Confirm whether version 10.16.0.80 remains deployed in production.
- Review workflows that import or preview externally supplied BMP content.
- Check whether vendor guidance from BE-2021-0002 has been applied.
- Look for suspicious crashes or unexpected child activity from MicroStation processes.
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
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CWE-122: Exact CWE lookup
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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-2021-46647 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.bentley.com/en/common-vulnerability-exposure/BE-2021-0002CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-234/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.
Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Heap-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.