CVE-2021-31205Network attack vector

SMB data disclosure via unintended guest fallback

Published May 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Security-feature bypass in Microsoft Windows SMB Client allows remote attackers to read SMB data after required user interaction. The SMB2 client leaves guest fallback enabled by default instead of enforcing the operating-system edition and Group Policy settings. A user must initiate an SMB connection to a malicious or intercepted server; the resulting unsigned, unencrypted guest session exposes SMB data but provides no integrity or availability impact.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability2.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Security-feature bypass in Microsoft Windows SMB Client allows remote attackers to read SMB data after required user interaction. The SMB2 client leaves guest fallback enabled by default instead of enforcing the operating-system edition and Group Policy settings. A user must initiate an SMB connection to a malicious or intercepted server; the resulting unsigned, unencrypted guest session exposes SMB data but provides no integrity or availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31205
Published
May 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server, version 2004
Classifications
T1557.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.0 <10.0.19041.982

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server, version 2004version=10.0.0 <10.0.19041.982
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.982
Microsoft · Windows Server version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.982
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 2004version=10.0.0 <10.0.19041.982

Published CVSS scores

6.5Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1557.001Name Resolution Poisoning and SMB Relay

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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