CVE-2020-0697

SYSTEM execution via crafted task log file

Published Feb 11, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Local privilege escalation in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise allows local users to run the OLicenseHeartbeat task as SYSTEM. The task process fails to validate its log file before operating on a crafted file placed at the expected location. An authenticated local account is required, and successful exploitation permits arbitrary file corruption and SYSTEM-level task execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise allows local users to run the OLicenseHeartbeat task as SYSTEM. The task process fails to validate its log file before operating on a crafted file placed at the expected location. An authenticated local account is required, and successful exploitation permits arbitrary file corruption and SYSTEM-level task execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-0697
Published
Feb 11, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
Classifications
T1053.005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=32-bit Systems
  2. Affected versionversion=64-bit Systems

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=32-bit Systems; version=64-bit Systems

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1053.005Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task

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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