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TI-2020-01299 Aliases CVE-2020-1338GHSA-w6c9-hppv-gfr8

Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Priority MEDIUM 45Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle objects in memory. 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 files in memory.</p>

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03851 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 (Microsoft): publicationMicrosoft Office 2019 (Microsoft): https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases+4 more products

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
MicrosoftMicrosoft SharePoint Server 201916.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 201919.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleaseshttps://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleasesPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2019 for Mac16.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office Online Server16.0.1 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft 365 Apps for Enterprise16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleaseshttps://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleasesPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2016 for Mac16.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
  • Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Office 2019 VendorMicrosoft Affected 19.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Office Online Server VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.1 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*2016VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:*2019VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*2019VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2019VulnerableMicrosoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* Versions 2016 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:* Versions 2019 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* Versions 2019 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2019 Vulnerable ·Microsoft

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office Online Server (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac (Microsoft) Fixed in publication

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-1338
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w6c9-hppv-gfr8
  3. 2026-10-16 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile

References

Patch 1

  • TI-2024-14173 Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-09240 Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-25471 Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-17652 Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-17368 Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2026-17363 Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
See all 935 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences