Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-16947 · published 16 October 2020
CVE-2020-16947: Microsoft 365 apps out-of-bounds read vulnerability
Microsoft · 365 Apps
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the targeted user. If the targeted user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.</p> <p>Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) that contains a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>Note that where severity is indicated as Critical in the Affected Products table, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Outlook handles objects in memory.</p>
Description
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the targeted user. If the targeted user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.</p> <p>Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) that contains a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>Note that where severity is indicated as Critical in the Affected Products table, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Outlook handles objects in memory.</p>
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected products
3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.
References
| Link | Tags |
|---|---|
| http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169961/Microsoft-Outlook-2019-16.0.13231.20262-Remote-Code-Execution.html | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
| https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16947 | PatchVendor Advisory |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1249/ | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1250/ | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
| http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169961/Microsoft-Outlook-2019-16.0.13231.20262-Remote-Code-Execution.html | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
| https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16947 | PatchVendor Advisory |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1249/ | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1250/ | Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry |
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Related vulnerabilities
Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-16947), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.
