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CVE-2020-16931

7.8 · HIGH
Published Oct 16, 2020 microsoft CWE-908 EPSS 4.82% (91th pctl)

Overview

CVE-2020-16931 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting microsoft 365_apps. It was published on October 16, 2020 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical 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

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from microsoft. Update 365_apps to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected Products

Vendor Product Versions Status

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-16931?

CVE-2020-16931 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting microsoft 365_apps. It was published on October 16, 2020 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2020-16931?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2020-16931?

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from microsoft. Update 365_apps to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2020-16931?

CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2020-16931 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.