CVE-2020-16933

HIGH

Microsoft Word - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Description

<p>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.</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 these files.</p>

References (1)

Core 1
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 7.0
EPSS 0.0274
EPSS Percentile 84.6%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

Status published
Products (26)
microsoft/365_apps
microsoft/office 2016
microsoft/office 2019 (2 CPE variants)
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
... and 16 more
Published Oct 16, 2020
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026