Vulnerability-Lookup

FKIE_CVE-2020-16933

Vulnerability from fkie_nvd - Published: 2020-10-16 23:15 - Updated: 2026-06-17 02:58

Severity

7.0 (High) - CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8 (High) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Summary

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. 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. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles these files.

References

	URL	Tags
	secure@microsoft.com	https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16933	Patch, Vendor Advisory
	af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108	https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16933	Patch, Vendor Advisory

Impacted products

Vendor	Product	Version
microsoft	windows_10	-
microsoft	windows_10	1607
microsoft	windows_10	1709
microsoft	windows_10	1803
microsoft	windows_10	1809
microsoft	windows_10	1903
microsoft	windows_10	1909
microsoft	windows_10	2004
microsoft	windows_7	-
microsoft	windows_8.1	-
microsoft	windows_rt_8.1	-
microsoft	windows_server_2008	-
microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2
microsoft	windows_server_2012	-
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2
microsoft	windows_server_2016	-
microsoft	windows_server_2016	1903
microsoft	windows_server_2016	1909
microsoft	windows_server_2016	2004
microsoft	windows_server_2019	-
microsoft	365_apps	-
microsoft	office	2016
microsoft	office	2019
microsoft	office	2019
microsoft	word	2010
microsoft	word	2013
microsoft	word	2013
microsoft	word	2016

JSON

To clipboard

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  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles these files.\u003c/p\u003e"
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Se presenta una vulnerabilidad de omisi\u00f3n de la caracter\u00edstica de seguridad en el software Microsoft Word cuando presenta un fallo al manejar apropiadamente los archivos .LNK, tambi\u00e9n se conoce como \"Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability\""
    }
  ],
  "id": "CVE-2020-16933",
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T02:58:18.033",
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
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        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
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          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "baseScore": 6.8,
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        "impactScore": 6.4,
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}

CVE-2020-16933 (GCVE-0-2020-16933)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2020-10-16 22:17 – Updated: 2024-11-15 16:58

Title

Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Summary

Severity

7 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2024-01-10 18:11 UTC

CWE

Security Feature Bypass

Assigner

microsoft CNA under the mitre root

CNA scorecard B 82/100 over 3963 records in the last 180 days details

References

1 reference

URL	Tags
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-…	x_refsource_MISC

Impacted products

7 products

Vendor	Product	Version
Microsoft	Microsoft Office 2019	Affected: 19.0.0 , < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:::::::*
Microsoft	Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac	Affected: 16.0.0 , < publication (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:::::macos::
Microsoft	Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise	Affected: 16.0.1 , < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-::::enterprise:::
Microsoft	Microsoft Word 2016	Affected: 16.0.1 , < publication (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2016:::::::*
Microsoft	Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac	Affected: 16.0.0 , < publication (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:::::mac_os::
Microsoft	Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 2	Affected: 13.0.0.0 , < publication (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2010:sp2::::::
Microsoft	Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1	Affected: 15.0.1 , < publication (custom) cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2013:sp1::::::

Date Public

2020-10-13 07:00

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
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          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-04T13:45:34.675Z",
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        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
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        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ],
          "product": "Microsoft Word 2016",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "16.0.1",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:mac_os:*:*"
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "Unknown"
          ],
          "product": "Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "16.0.0",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*"
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ],
          "product": "Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 2",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "13.0.0.0",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*"
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "ARM64-based Systems",
            "32-bit Systems"
          ],
          "product": "Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "15.0.1",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*"
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "x64-based Systems"
          ],
          "product": "Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "15.0.1",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "datePublic": "2020-10-13T07:00:00.000Z",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en-US",
          "value": "\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles these files.\u003c/p\u003e"
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 7,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "format": "CVSS",
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en-US",
              "value": "GENERAL"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "Security Feature Bypass",
              "lang": "en-US",
              "type": "Impact"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2023-12-31T19:19:55.042Z",
        "orgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8",
        "shortName": "microsoft"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16933"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8",
    "assignerShortName": "microsoft",
    "cveId": "CVE-2020-16933",
    "datePublished": "2020-10-16T22:17:54.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2020-08-04T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2024-11-15T16:58:46.888Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Vulnerability timeline

Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC

Order JSON

How durations are calculated

Following the VTEM framework (Black Hat USA 2015), time to patch starts when the vendor or a coordinator was informed, total time to patch at discovery, and disclosure to patch at public disclosure; vendor response time runs from the report to its acknowledgement. Time to exploit and time unpatched start at the earliest discovery or report, falling back to public disclosure. Unpatched time ends at the first recorded patch, or the calculation time when no patch is recorded. Exploitation to patch shows the interval between those two events; a published proof of concept is a public exploit, not exploitation.

Each result shows its source dates. A negative interval means the end event came first; when date-only inputs leave the order open, the result says so. Date-only inputs are approximate. The earliest evidence wins: KEV report dates and sightings are labelled as such. Records describing another vulnerability are listed but never calculated from, and a PoC alone does not establish exploitation. Missing patch evidence does not prove that no patch exists. Filters below change the event list only.

Publication & reservation Sightings KEV catalogs Other timestamps

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The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.

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