7.8
HIGH
CVE-2020-16929
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Description

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel 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 current user. If the current 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 Excel. 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) containing 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>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.</p>

INFO

Published Date :

Oct. 16, 2020, 11:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

Nov. 21, 2024, 5:07 a.m.

Remotely Exploitable :

No

Impact Score :

5.9

Exploitability Score :

1.8
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2020-16929 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Microsoft sharepoint_enterprise_server
2 Microsoft office
3 Microsoft sharepoint_server
4 Microsoft 365_apps
5 Microsoft office_web_apps
6 Microsoft excel
7 Microsoft office_online_server
8 Microsoft excel_web_app
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2020-16929.

URL Resource
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16929 Patch Vendor Advisory
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/ Third Party Advisory
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16929 Patch Vendor Advisory
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/ Third Party Advisory

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2020-16929 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2020-16929 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108

    Nov. 21, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Reference https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16929
    Added Reference https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    May. 14, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Dec. 31, 2023

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Description A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-16930, CVE-2020-16931, CVE-2020-16932. <p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel 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 current user. If the current 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 Excel. 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) containing 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>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.</p>
    Added CVSS V3.1 Microsoft Corporation AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Oct. 20, 2020

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V2 Metadata Victim must voluntarily interact with attack mechanism
    Added CVSS V2 NIST (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)
    Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Changed Reference Type https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16929 No Types Assigned https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16929 Patch, Vendor Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/ No Types Assigned https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/ Third Party Advisory
    Added CWE NIST CWE-416
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel_web_app:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_enterprise_server:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Oct. 19, 2020

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Reference https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1251/ [No Types Assigned]
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2020-16929 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2020-16929 weaknesses.

Exploit Prediction

EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.

2.26 }} 0.05%

score

0.89256

percentile

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Privileges Required
User Interaction
Scope
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability