How severe is CVE-2020-16851?

CVE-2020-16851 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-16851 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (58th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-16851?

CVE-2020-16851 affects Microsoft Onedrive. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-16851?

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-2020-16851 published?

CVE-2020-16851 was published on 2020-09-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-16851

CVE-2020-16851 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Onedrive with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-59.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.1)
CVSS v2: 3.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (58th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected product: Microsoft Onedrive
Published: 2020-09-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the OneDrive for Windows Desktop application improperly handles symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could overwrite a targeted file with an elevated status. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and delete a targeted file with an elevated status. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-16851?: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the OneDrive for Windows Desktop application improperly handles symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could overwrite a targeted file with an elevated status. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and delete a targeted file with an elevated status. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.
How severe is CVE-2020-16851?: CVE-2020-16851 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-16851 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (58th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-16851?: CVE-2020-16851 affects Microsoft Onedrive. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-16851?: 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-2020-16851 published?: CVE-2020-16851 was published on 2020-09-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16851

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:onedrive:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Microsoft Onedrive

CVE-2020-0654 — Critical (CVSS 9.1): A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft OneDrive App for Android.This could allow an attacker to…
CVE-2023-24930 — High (CVSS 7.8): Microsoft OneDrive for MacOS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
CVE-2020-1465 — High (CVSS 7.8): An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft OneDrive that allows file deletion in arbitrary…
CVE-2018-0593 — High (CVSS 7.8): Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer of Microsoft OneDrive allows an attacker to gain privileges via a…
CVE-2018-0592 — High (CVSS 7.8): Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft OneDrive allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL…
CVE-2020-16853 — High (CVSS 7.1): An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the OneDrive for Windows Desktop application improperly handles…

All CVEs affecting Microsoft Onedrive →

Other CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (Link Following)) vulnerabilities

CVE-2024-37143 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Dell PowerFlex appliance versions prior to IC 46.381.00 and IC 46.376.00, Dell PowerFlex rack versions prior to RCM…
CVE-2024-28189 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Judge0 is an open-source online code execution system. The application uses the UNIX chown command on an untrusted file…
CVE-2024-28185 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Judge0 is an open-source online code execution system. The application does not account for symlinks placed inside the…
CVE-2022-22995 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The combination of primitives offered by SMB and AFP in their default configuration allows the arbitrary writing of…
CVE-2014-4480 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Directory traversal vulnerability in afc in AppleFileConduit in Apple iOS before 8.1.3 and Apple TV before 7.0.3 allows…
CVE-2002-2374 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Unspecified vulnerability in pprosetup in Sun PatchPro 2.0 has unknown impact and attack vectors related to "unsafe use…

Browse all CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (Link Following)) vulnerabilities →