# CVE-2004-0502: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Remote attackers can bypass Outlook zone restrictions by exploiting predictable file locations during email replies, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Jun 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hh26-f6cr-2h76

## What is CVE-2004-0502?

CVE-2004-0502 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook, published on 3 Jun 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Outlook 2003, when replying to an e-mail message, stores certain files in a predictable location for the "src" of an img tag of the original message, which allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions and exploit other issues that rely on predictable locations, as demonstrated using a shell: URI.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0502?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Outlook.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0502?

No fix has been published for CVE-2004-0502 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2004-0502 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0502 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Outlook 2003 - Predictable File Location (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook

- [CVE-2017-11774](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11774/): Microsoft Office Outlook Security Feature Bypass (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2001-0538](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0538/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-3870](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3870/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2010-2728](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-2728/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2010-0266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0266/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-0502 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0502 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook, published on 3 Jun 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0502 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Outlook. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0502/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0502/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0502
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0502
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0502

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0502/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.