Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-46648 is a high-severity flaw in Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80. A user would need to open a malicious DGN file or visit a malicious page. If successful, the attacker could run code with that user’s privileges, putting engineering workstations and project data at risk.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted workstation risk for engineering or design environments. It is not described as wormable, but successful exploitation could compromise sensitive project data. Prioritize remediation where external files are common.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow in DGN file parsing. User-supplied length data is not properly validated before copying into a heap buffer. ZDI reported that exploitation can allow arbitrary code execution in the current process. CVSS v3.0 is 7.8 high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on workstations running Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80, especially where users receive DGN files or project links from external parties. The source bundle does not identify other affected versions.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show known active exploitation, and KEV is false. Exploitation requires user interaction: the target must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. No exploit availability is stated in the provided sources.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a DGN parser heap overflow with code execution potential in the current process. The bundle names MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 only. Patch details, exploit availability, and broader version exposure are not provided here and should be confirmed from Bentley guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Review Bentley BE-2021-0009 and apply vendor-confirmed remediation guidance.
- Prioritize updating or replacing MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 where present.
- Restrict opening untrusted DGN files and project links until remediation is confirmed.
- Run design applications with least-privilege user accounts where operationally feasible.
- Increase monitoring for suspicious activity on engineering workstations handling external files.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Bentley MicroStation CONNECT 10.16.0.80 installations.
- Confirm whether users receive DGN files or project links from external sources.
- Check Bentley BE-2021-0009 for affected-version and remediation details.
- Verify patched or remediated systems no longer report the vulnerable version.
- Review EDR alerts around MicroStation process crashes or unusual child 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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-122: 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-2021-46648 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-2021-0009CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-235/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.