CVE-2020-16947
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 33.7%, higher than 98% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook 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 targeted user. If the targeted 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 Outlook 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 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>Note that where severity is indicated as Critical in the Affected Products table, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Outlook handles objects in memory.</p>
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 33.66% probability · 98th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-125, CWE-787
- Affected
- microsoft/365 apps · microsoft/office · microsoft/outlook
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 33.7% since 3 November 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169961/Microsoft-Outlook-2019-16.0.13231.20262-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16947Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1249/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1250/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169961/Microsoft-Outlook-2019-16.0.13231.20262-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16947Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1249/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1250/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.