CVE-2020-1096 Microsoft Edge PDF Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
An attacker can execute arbitrary code by tricking a user into viewing a malicious PDF in Microsoft Edge, potentially gaining full system control.
- 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
- None listed
What is CVE-2020-1096?
CVE-2020-1096 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Edge, published on 21 May 2020. 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
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when Microsoft Edge PDF Reader improperly handles objects in memory. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that enables an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit the vulnerability, in a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website that contains malicious PDF content. In addition, compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted PDF content that could exploit the vulnerability. However, in all cases an attacker would have no way to force a user to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince a user to take action. For example, an attacker could trick a user into clicking a link that takes the user to the attacker's site. The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how Microsoft Edge PDF Reader handles objects in memory.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1096?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Microsoft Edge.
How do I fix CVE-2020-1096?
No fix has been published for CVE-2020-1096 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2020-1096 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1096 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge
Sources
Also known as GHSA-8q69-fxwh-w5gr.