Privilege escalation in Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2020-16875
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange server due to improper validation of cmdlet arguments.</p> <p>An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the System user. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires an authenticated user in a certain Exchange role to be compromised.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Exchange handles cmdlet arguments.</p>
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.4 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.474 (98.8th percentile), scored .
Moderate probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — watch for active exploitation reports. 99th percentile — 98.8% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.474 · newest: 0.474 · change: 0.000
Affected products
- Microsoft Exchange Server — versions 2016, 2019
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 16 — versions 15.01.0
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 17 — versions 15.01.0
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 5 — versions 15.02.0
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 6 — versions 15.02.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16875 (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/159210/Microsoft-Exchange-Server-DlpUtils-AddTena… (Exploit, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2020-16875?
- CVE-2020-16875 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, classified under Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component (Injection). CVSS score: 8.4/10. Published 2020-09-11.
- How severe is CVE-2020-16875?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.4 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2020-16875 known to be exploited?
- 17 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.