Vulnerability · Published Sep 11, 2020 · Assigned by microsoft
CVE-2020-1335Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
High 7.8
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise from Microsoft. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 3.9% (higher than 90% of all known vulnerabilities).
Official 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>
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 | 16.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2019 | 19.0.0 – before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office Online Server | 16.0.1 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | 16.0.1 – before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2016 | 16.0.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2016 | 16.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 | 13.0.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 2 | 13.0.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0 – before publication |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0.0 – before publication |