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CVE Record

CVE-2020-1583: Microsoft Word Information Disclosure Vulnerability

An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Word improperly discloses the contents of its memory. An attacker who exploited the vulnerability could use the information to compromise the user’s computer or data. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker could craft a special document file and then convince the user to open it. An attacker must know the memory address location where the object was created. The update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way certain Word functions handle objects in memory.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-1583 is a Microsoft Word memory disclosure issue. A malicious document could expose memory contents after a user opens it, potentially helping an attacker compromise the user’s computer or data. It affects several Microsoft Office, Word, SharePoint, Office Online Server, and Office Web Apps versions listed by Microsoft/CVE sources.

Executive priority

Treat this as high-priority Microsoft patching, especially for users and services that open external documents. It is not KEV-listed in the provided evidence, so urgency is strong but should be balanced against broader patch cycles and exposure to untrusted files.

Technical view

Microsoft describes improper disclosure of Word memory contents. Exploitation requires a specially crafted document and user interaction, and the attacker must know where an object was created in memory. Microsoft’s fix changes how certain Word functions handle objects in memory. CVSS 3.1 is 8.8 high.

Likely exposure

Organizations are most exposed where affected Word/Office clients or Microsoft document-processing server products handle untrusted documents, email attachments, uploads, or shared files. The source list includes Office/Word 2010-2019, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, SharePoint 2010-2019, Office Online Server, and Office Web Apps.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not support active exploitation: KEV is false and no cited source states exploitation in the wild. Exploitation is document-driven and requires persuading a user to open a crafted file, plus attacker knowledge of a relevant memory address.

Researcher notes

The affected list is broad and includes duplicate Word 2013 entries and one Office 2010 item with an Excel CPE, so validate product mapping against MSRC. No CWE is provided. Do not infer RCE mechanics beyond Microsoft’s stated memory disclosure and compromise potential.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the Microsoft security update identified in the MSRC advisory.
  • Prioritize Office, Word, SharePoint, Office Online Server, and Office Web Apps assets handling external documents.
  • Check Microsoft guidance for exact update packages and supported product versions.
  • Retire or isolate unsupported affected versions that cannot receive vendor updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed affected products and compare versions against Microsoft advisory coverage.
  • Confirm the relevant Microsoft update is installed on endpoints and servers.
  • Review document-ingestion workflows for affected server-side Microsoft components.
  • Track detections or alerts involving suspicious Office documents, without assuming CVE-specific exploitation.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

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CVE-2020-1583 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-1583Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
MicrosoftMicrosoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 201616.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2013 Service Pack 115.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft SharePoint Server 201916.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 201919.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2019 for Mac16.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office Online Server16.0.1Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft 365 Apps for Enterprise16.0.1Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Word 201616.0.1Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2016 for Mac16.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2010 Service Pack 213.0.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office Web Apps 2010 Service Pack 213.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 115.0.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft SharePoint Server 2010 Service Pack 213.0.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Word 2010 Service Pack 213.0.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Word 2013 Service Pack 115.0.1Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Word 2013 Service Pack 115.0.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.