8.8
HIGH
CVE-2020-16933
Microsoft Word .LNK File Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
Description

<p>A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle .LNK files. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could use a specially crafted file to perform actions in the security context of the current user. For example, the file could then take actions on behalf of the logged-on user with the same permissions as the current user.</p> <p>To exploit the vulnerability, a user must open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Word 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 that is designed to exploit the vulnerability. However, an attacker would have no way to force the user to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince the user to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or Instant Messenger message, and then convince the user to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles these files.</p>

INFO

Published Date :

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

Last Modified :

Dec. 31, 2023, 8:15 p.m.

Remotely Exploitable :

Yes !

Impact Score :

5.9

Exploitability Score :

2.8
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2020-16933 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 windows_10
2 Microsoft windows_7
3 Microsoft windows_8.1
4 Microsoft windows_rt_8.1
5 Microsoft windows_server_2008
6 Microsoft windows_server_2012
7 Microsoft windows_server_2016
8 Microsoft office
9 Microsoft word
10 Microsoft windows_server_2019
11 Microsoft 365_apps
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-2020-16933.

URL Resource
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16933 Patch Vendor 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-2020-16933 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2020-16933 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 [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 security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle .LNK files, aka 'Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability'. <p>A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle .LNK files. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could use a specially crafted file to perform actions in the security context of the current user. For example, the file could then take actions on behalf of the logged-on user with the same permissions as the current user.</p> <p>To exploit the vulnerability, a user must open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Word 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 that is designed to exploit the vulnerability. However, an attacker would have no way to force the user to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince the user to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or Instant Messenger message, and then convince the user to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles these files.</p>
    Added CVSS V3.1 Microsoft Corporation AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • CWE Remap by [email protected]

    Jul. 12, 2022

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed CWE CWE-755 NVD-CWE-noinfo
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Oct. 21, 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:N/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-2020-16933 No Types Assigned https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16933 Patch, Vendor Advisory
    Added CWE NIST CWE-755
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1709:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1803:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1903:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1909:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:2004:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_rt_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:*:*:*:*:x64:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1903:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1909:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:2004:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* *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:word:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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-2020-16933 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-2020-16933 weaknesses.

Exploit Prediction

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

0.15 }} 0.01%

score

0.49614

percentile

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
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