CVE-2020-0696Network attack vector

Security-feature bypass via malformed URI normalization

Published Feb 11, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Security-feature bypass in affected Microsoft Outlook and Office releases allows remote attackers to evade link checks via malformed URIs. Outlook accepts a benign displayed link whose malformed file-like URI target escapes link inspection, then normalizes that target into an HTTP URL when clicked. Exploitation requires user interaction; the bypass does not execute code by itself but can deliver a second exploit or malicious destination.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability4.99%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Security-feature bypass in affected Microsoft Outlook and Office releases allows remote attackers to evade link checks via malformed URIs. Outlook accepts a benign displayed link whose malformed file-like URI target escapes link inspection, then normalizes that target into an HTTP URL when clicked. Exploitation requires user interaction; the bypass does not execute code by itself but can deliver a second exploit or malicious destination.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-0696
Published
Feb 11, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office
Classifications
T1566.002, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2019 for 32-bit editions
  2. Affected versionversion=2019 for 64-bit editions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Officeversion=2019 for 32-bit editions; version=2019 for 64-bit editions
Microsoft · Microsoft Outlookversion=2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions); version=2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions); version=2013 RT Service Pack 1; version=2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions); version=2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions); version=2016 (32-bit edition); version=2016 (64-bit edition)
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=32-bit Systems; version=64-bit Systems

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1566.002Phishing: Spearphishing Link
T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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