CVE-2020-16852
CVE-2020-16852 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.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.1)
- CVSS v2: 3.6
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (57th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Affected product: Microsoft Onedrive
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.</p>
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2020-16852?
- <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.</p>
- How severe is CVE-2020-16852?
- CVE-2020-16852 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-2020-16852 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (57th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2020-16852?
- CVE-2020-16852 affects Microsoft Onedrive. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2020-16852?
- 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-2020-16852 published?
- CVE-2020-16852 was published on 2020-09-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:onedrive:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*
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