CVE-2020-16947: Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
High (CVSS 7.5)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Remote Code Execution
Exploit Status
Not Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Less Likely
Patch Tuesday
2020-Oct
Released
2020-10-13
Last Updated
2020-10-15
EPSS Score
45.39% (percentile: 97.6%)

Description

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. 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. Note that where severity is indicated as Critical in the Affected Products table, the Preview Pane is an attack vector. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Outlook handles objects in memory.

FAQ

Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? Yes, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.

Detection & Weaponization (1 sources)

Maturity: Exploit

  • GitHub PoC: 2 repositories

Affected Products (6)

Other

  • 11573
  • 11574
  • 11762
  • 11763
  • 10765
  • 10766

Security Updates (1)

Acknowledgments

0neb1n working with <a href="https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/">Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative</a>, 0neb1n working with <a href="https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/">Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative</a>

Revision History

  • 2020-10-13: Information published.
  • 2020-10-15: Corrected vulnerability description. This is an informational change only.