CVE-2020-1338

Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: September 11, 2020 at 05:09 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:01 AM UTC
7 products affected across 1 vendorOffice365 AppsSharePoint Server

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 4%

Description

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle objects in memory. 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 files in memory.</p>

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

16.0.1 ≤ v < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases16.0.1
Affected range stops below https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
16.0.1 ≤ v < publication16.0.1
Affected range stops below publication, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
16.0.0 ≤ v < publication16.0.0
Affected range stops below publication, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
16.0.0 ≤ v < publication19.0.0 ≤ v < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases16.0.019.0.0
Affected range stops below https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below publication, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
16.0.0 ≤ v < publication16.0.0
Affected range stops below publication, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

CVSS

7.8HIGHmicrosoft
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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