CVE-2020-1380
Memory Safety in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2020-1380 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2012. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Security Account Manager (T1003.002); ranked in the top 2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer. Successful exploitation can corrupt memory and allow arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, potentially leading to full system compromise if the user has administrative rights. The issue is tracked as CWE-787 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8.
An attacker can exploit the flaw in a web-based scenario by hosting a specially crafted site that targets Internet Explorer or by embedding an ActiveX control marked safe for initialization in a Microsoft Office document or other application that hosts the IE rendering engine. Compromised or user-generated content sites can also serve as vectors. Exploitation grants the attacker the same privileges as the logged-on user, enabling installation of programs, data access or modification, and creation of new accounts.
Microsoft's security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the scripting engine handles objects in memory, as detailed in the MSRC advisory for CVE-2020-1380. The flaw appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and public proof-of-concept material targeting jscript9.dll has been published.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-12256
Vulnerability Data
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…
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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(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 03 November 2021
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.
Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.
Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.