CVE-2020-16884 Internet Explorer Browser Helper Object (BHO) Memory Corruption Vulnerability

What is CVE-2020-16884?

CVE-2020-16884 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Edge, published on 11 Sep 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

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the IEToEdge Browser Helper Object (BHO) plugin on Internet Explorer handles objects in memory. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could 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.</p> <p>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability 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.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the IEToEdge BHO plug-in handles objects in memory.</p>

Weakness: CWE-787

Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-16884?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Microsoft Edge.

How do I fix CVE-2020-16884?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-16884 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-2020-16884 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-16884 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge

• CVE-2021-26411 Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2016-7200 Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2016-7201 Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2017-0037 Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer Type Confusion Exploited High 8.1
• CVE-2016-3351 Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge Information Disclosure Exploited Medium 6.5

All Microsoft Edge vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-6pf2-gv4h-7wj3.