CVE-2020-17126 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Microsoft Excel Information Disclosure Vulnerability was published on December 9, 2020, with a CVSS base score of 5.5.

Understanding CVE-2020-17126

This CVE identifies an Information Disclosure vulnerability in Microsoft Excel.

What is CVE-2020-17126?

The CVE-2020-17126 is an Information Disclosure vulnerability affecting various Microsoft Office products and versions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17126

The vulnerability allows unauthorized disclosure of information, potentially leading to data compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17126

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to access sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Office 2019 (version 19.0.0)
Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac (version 16.0.0)
Microsoft Office Online Server (version 16.0.1)
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (version 16.0.1)
Microsoft Excel 2016 (version 16.0.0.0)
Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 (version 13.0.0.0)
Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (version 15.0.0.0)
Microsoft Office Web Apps 2013 Service Pack 1 (version 15.0.0.0)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-17126 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft.
Monitor for any unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Educate users on safe handling of Excel files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Microsoft Office products.
Implement access controls to limit data exposure.
Conduct security training for employees to recognize phishing attempts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest security patches from Microsoft.