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TI-2020-12919 Aliases CVE-2020-16931GHSA-w5jh-vr73-453v

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-908Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

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>

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.04824 92nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Microsoft Office 2019 (Microsoft): https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleasesMicrosoft Office Online Server (Microsoft): publication+5 more products

SSVC decision points

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 201919.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleaseshttps://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleasesPatch 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 Excel 201616.0.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 213.0.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 115.0.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 115.0.0.0 to before publicationpublicationPatch availableCNA
  • 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 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 Excel 2016 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 VendorMicrosoft Affected 13.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
  • Microsoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 1 VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 8

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*2010 sp2VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*2013 sp1VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*2013 sp1VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2016VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:*2019VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.0VulnerableMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*2013 sp1VulnerableMicrosoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2010 sp2 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2016 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:* Versions 2019 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_online_server:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
  • 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 Excel 2016 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
  • Fix · CNA Microsoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-16931
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w5jh-vr73-453v

References

Patch 1

Other 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