# CVE-2020-1223: Code injection in Microsoft Word for Android

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a specially crafted URL file in Microsoft Word for Android.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 9 Jun 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jwch-v5xr-vmcf

## What is CVE-2020-1223?

CVE-2020-1223 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Word, published on 9 Jun 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 Word for Android fails to properly handle certain files.To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URL file.The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word for Android handles specially crafted URL files., aka 'Word for Android Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1223?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Word.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-1223?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-1223 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-1223 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1223 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word

- [CVE-2004-0963](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0963/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2015-0065](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0065/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2014-1758](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1758/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2013-3891](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3891/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2013-3892](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3892/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-1223 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-1223 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Word, published on 9 Jun 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1223 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Word. 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-2020-1223/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1223/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1223
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1223
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1223

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1223/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.