CVE-2020-16931 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

Status: Modified - Last modified: 31 Dec 2023, 20:15 UTC Published: 16 Oct 2020, 23:15 UTC

CVE-2020-16931
Vulnerability Scoring

7.8
/10

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low Impact
  • Attack Vector: LOCAL
  • Privileges Required: None
  • Scope: UNCHANGED
  • User Interaction: REQUIRED

CIA Impact Definition

  • Confidentiality: HIGH IMPACT
  • Integrity: HIGH IMPACT
  • Availability: HIGH IMPACT

CVE-2020-16931 Vulnerability Summary

<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>

Access Complexity Graph

Above is the Access Complexity Graph for CVE-2020-16931. It helps visualize the difficulty level and privilege requirements needed to exploit this vulnerability, providing a quick assessment of its exploitation feasibility.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2020-16931, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2020-16931, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

The EPSS score estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the near future.

EPSS Score: 1.779% (probability of exploit)

EPSS Percentile: 87.98% (lower percentile = lower relative risk)
This vulnerability is less risky than approximately 12.019999999999996% of others.

CVE-2020-16931 Detailed Information and External References

References

CWE

CWE-908

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS3 Source

secure@microsoft.com

CVSS3 Type

Primary

CVSS3 Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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