CVE-2020-0697
CVE-2020-0697 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Office 365 Proplus with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
- CVSS v2: 7.2
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (55th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Affected product: Microsoft Office 365 Proplus
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office OLicenseHeartbeat task, where an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run this task as SYSTEM.To exploit the vulnerability, an authenticated attacker would need to place a specially crafted file in a specific location, thereby allowing arbitrary file corruption.The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the process validates the log file., aka 'Microsoft Office Tampering Vulnerability'.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2020-0697?
- An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office OLicenseHeartbeat task, where an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run this task as SYSTEM.To exploit the vulnerability, an authenticated attacker would need to place a specially crafted file in a specific location, thereby allowing arbitrary file corruption.The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the process validates the log file., aka 'Microsoft Office Tampering Vulnerability'.
- How severe is CVE-2020-0697?
- CVE-2020-0697 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2020-0697 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (55th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2020-0697?
- CVE-2020-0697 affects Microsoft Office 365 Proplus. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2020-0697?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2020-0697 published?
- CVE-2020-0697 was published on 2020-02-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_365_proplus:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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