CVE-2020-1380: Microsoft Internet Explorer Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2020-1380 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 03-11-2021. EPSS estimates a 24.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 97.8% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 17-08-2020
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 03-11-2021
   Added to CISA KEVMicrosoft Internet Explorer Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
3. 03-05-2022
   CISA remediation dueApply updates per vendor instructions.
4. 21-10-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer. 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. 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. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker could also embed an ActiveX control marked "safe for initialization" in an application or Microsoft Office document that hosts the IE rendering engine. The attacker could also take advantage of compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements. These websites could contain specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability. The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the scripting engine handles objects in memory.

• CWE-787Out-of-bounds WriteThe product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.