Authenticated code execution via PowerShell object deserialization
Published Feb 14, 2023 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Deserialization in affected Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, 2016, and 2019 builds allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. SerializationTypeConverter reads SerializationData from a remoted PSObject and passes its bytes to BinaryFormatter; the allowed GenericSidIdentity type reaches a ClaimsIdentity gadget during a second deserialization. Exploitation requires HTTP access to the PowerShell endpoint, a valid Exchange account, Kerberos authentication, and domain-controller reachability; successful exploitation runs attacker-chosen code in the Exchange PowerShell backend.
Summary
What happened
Deserialization in affected Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, 2016, and 2019 builds allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. SerializationTypeConverter reads SerializationData from a remoted PSObject and passes its bytes to BinaryFormatter; the allowed GenericSidIdentity type reaches a ClaimsIdentity gadget during a second deserialization. Exploitation requires HTTP access to the PowerShell endpoint, a valid Exchange account, Kerberos authentication, and domain-controller reachability; successful exploitation runs attacker-chosen code in the Exchange PowerShell backend.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-21707
- Published
- Feb 14, 2023
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 12
- Classifications
- CWE-502, T1210
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=15.02.0 <15.02.1118.026
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- STAR Labs PowerShell remoting deserialization proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo