CVE-2025-53786: Microsoft Exchange Server Hybrid Deployment Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
On April 18th 2025, Microsoft announced Exchange Server Security Changes for Hybrid Deployments and accompanying non-security Hot Fix. Microsoft made these changes in the general interest of improving the security of hybrid Exchange deployments. Following further investigation, Microsoft identified specific security implications tied to the guidance and configuration steps outlined in the April announcement. Microsoft is issuing CVE-2025-53786 to document a vulnerability that is addressed by taking the steps documented with the April 18th announcement. Microsoft strongly recommends reading the information, installing the April 2025 (or later) Hot Fix and implementing the changes in your Exchange Server and hybrid environment.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by microsoft, published 2025-08-06).
Weakness: CWE-287: Improper Authentication
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with high attack complexity needing high privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA has no evidence of exploitation. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2025-09477, CNNVD-202508-605, EUVD-2025-23857, GHSA-v92c-556h-xm93
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:GAUDYGLOW
Exploit Observer links 2 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.
Exploit code and modules (2)
Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.
- Code repository: https://github.com/barbaraeivyu/cve-2025-53786
- Code repository: https://github.com/vincentdthe/cve-2025-53786
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (8)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2025-23857
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-v92c-556h-xm93
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53786
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53786)
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53786
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/08/06/microsoft-releases-guidance-high-severity-vulnerability-cve-2025-53786-hybrid-exchange-deployments
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-202508-605
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.tenable.com/cve/CVE-2025-53786
News (2)
- News: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-fed-agencies-to-patch-new-cve-2025-53786-exchange-flaw
- News: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/07/exchange-hybrid-deployment-vulnerability-cve-2025-53786
65 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.076
some chance of attack soon - VEDAS
- 0.960
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Detection rule
- None yet
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 23 | from 15.01.0.0 before 15.01.2507.055 | Not stated |
| Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 14 | from 15.02.0.0 before 15.02.1544.025 | Not stated |
| Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 15 | from 15.02.0.0 before 15.02.1748.024 | Not stated |
| Microsoft Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition RTM | from 15.02.0.0 before 15.02.2562.017 | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: microsoft exchange_server, microsoft exchange_server_subscription_edition, microsoft_corp microsoft_exchange_server.
How to fix it
Fixed versions stated in the CVE record: 15.01.2507.055, 15.02.1544.025, 15.02.1748.024, 15.02.2562.017.
Vendor guidance:
- Microsoft Exchange Server Hybrid Deployment Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (vendor-advisory, patch)
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
Advisories on this CVE
References
Vendor advisories and patches
- Microsoft Exchange Server Hybrid Deployment Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (vendor-advisory, patch)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.