CVE-2020-0688

Microsoft Exchange Server Validation Key Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity Score

8.8

*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

Yes

*KEV

Decision

Act

*SSVC

Descriptions

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Exchange Memory Corruption Vulnerability'.

Se presenta una vulnerabilidad de ejecución de código remota en el software Microsoft Exchange cuando el software no puede manejar apropiadamente los objetos en la memoria, también se conoce como "Microsoft Exchange Memory Corruption Vulnerability".

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Exchange Server. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the Exchange Control Panel web application. The product fails to generate a unique cryptographic key at installation, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM.

Microsoft Exchange 2019 version 15.2.221.12 suffers from an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability.

Microsoft Exchange Server Validation Key fails to properly create unique keys at install time, allowing for remote code execution.

*Credits: Anonymous

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Authentication

Single

Confidentiality

Complete

Integrity

Complete

Availability

Complete

* Common Vulnerability Scoring System

SSVC

Decision:Act

Exploitation

Active

Automatable

Tech. Impact

Total

* Organization's Worst-case Scenario

Timeline

2019-11-04 CVE Reserved
2020-02-11 CVE Published
2020-02-27 First Exploit
2021-11-03 Exploited in Wild
2022-05-03 KEV Due Date
2025-02-04 CVE Updated
2025-03-18 EPSS Updated

CWE

CWE-287: Improper Authentication

CAPEC

References (32)

URL	Tag	Source
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-258	Third Party Advisory
https://www.thezdi.com/blog/2020/2/24/cve-2020-0688-remote-code-execution-on-microsoft-exchange-server-through-fixed-cryptographic-keys

URL	Date	SRC
https://packetstorm.news/files/id/156620	2020-03-04
https://packetstorm.news/files/id/156592	2020-03-02
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48168	2020-03-05
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48153	2020-03-02
https://github.com/zcgonvh/CVE-2020-0688	2020-03-21
https://github.com/Jumbo-WJB/CVE-2020-0688	2020-02-27
https://github.com/onSec-fr/CVE-2020-0688-Scanner	2021-06-01
https://github.com/ravinacademy/CVE-2020-0688	2020-03-31
https://github.com/MrTiz/CVE-2020-0688	2021-06-06
https://github.com/youncyb/CVE-2020-0688	2020-02-28
https://github.com/W01fh4cker/CVE-2020-0688-GUI	2024-05-09
https://github.com/righter83/CVE-2020-0688	2021-09-10
https://github.com/ktpdpro/CVE-2020-0688	2020-04-22
https://github.com/chudamax/CVE-2020-0688-Exchange2010	2023-08-02
https://github.com/cert-lv/CVE-2020-0688	2020-03-19
https://github.com/murataydemir/CVE-2020-0688	2020-08-29
https://github.com/SLSteff/CVE-2020-0688-Scanner	2020-10-29
https://github.com/1337-llama/CVE-2020-0688-Python3	2023-10-26
https://github.com/7heKnight/CVE-2020-0688	2022-06-03
https://github.com/random-robbie/cve-2020-0688	2024-11-30
https://github.com/Ridter/cve-2020-0688	2024-11-16
https://github.com/Yt1g3r/CVE-2020-0688_EXP	2024-12-05
https://github.com/truongtn/cve-2020-0688	2024-08-12
https://github.com/justin-p/PSForgot2kEyXCHANGE	2024-08-12
https://github.com/mahyarx/Exploit_CVE-2020-0688	2024-08-12
https://github.com/w4fz5uck5/cve-2020-0688-webshell-upload-technique	2024-12-05
https://github.com/zyn3rgy/ecp_slap	2024-11-19
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156592/Microsoft-Exchange-2019-15.2.221.12-Remote-Code-Execution.html	2025-02-04
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156620/Exchange-Control-Panel-Viewstate-Deserialization.html	2025-02-04

URL	Date	SRC
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0688	2024-02-13

URL	Date	SRC

Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions

Vendor		Product				Version		Other		Status
Vendor	Product	Version	Other	Status	<-- -->	Vendor	Product	Version	Other	Status
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2010 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2010"		sp3_rollup_30		Affected
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2013 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2013"		cumulative_update_23		Affected
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2016 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2016"		cumulative_update_14		Affected
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2016 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2016"		cumulative_update_15		Affected
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2019 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2019"		cumulative_update_3		Affected
Microsoft Search vendor "Microsoft"		Exchange Server Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server"				2019 Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Exchange Server" and version "2019"		cumulative_update_4		Affected