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CVE-2020-16853

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.1)—

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the OneDrive for Windows Desktop application improperly handles symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could overwrite a targeted file with an elevated status.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and delete a targeted file with an elevated status.</p> <p>The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.</p>

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Microsoft — Onedrive

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2020-16853",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 3.6,
          "accessVector": "LOCAL",
          "vectorString": "AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 4.9,
        "baseSeverity": "LOW",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.1,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.2,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      },
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.1,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.2,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:onedrive:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*"
          ],
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "OneDrive for Windows",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "lessThan": "publication",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "Unknown"
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2020-09-11T17:15:16.700",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16853",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16853",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-59"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the OneDrive for Windows Desktop application improperly handles symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could overwrite a targeted file with an elevated status.</p>\n<p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and delete a targeted file with an elevated status.</p>\n<p>The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting where the OneDrive updater performs file writes while running with elevation.</p>"
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Se presenta una vulnerabilidad de escalada de privilegios cuando la aplicación OneDrive para Windows Desktop maneja inapropiadamente enlaces simbólicos, también se conoce como \"OneDrive for Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability\".&#xa0;Este ID de CVE es diferente de CVE-2020-16851, CVE-2020-16852"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T02:58:08.810",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:onedrive:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "37DB276D-F6C4-4E92-A588-6A8BF769BAEA"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "secure@microsoft.com"
}