CVE-2020-1583 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Word improperly discloses the contents of its memory. An attacker who exploited the vulnerability could use the information to compromise the user’s computer or data. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker could craft a special document file and then convince the user to open it. An attacker must know the memory address location where the object was created. The update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way certain Word functions handle objects in memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-1583 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Word that stems from improper memory handling during document processing operations. This issue falls under the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can potentially lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects how Word manages object references in memory, creating opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected. The flaw demonstrates a classic weakness in memory management practices where object cleanup or reference handling fails to properly secure memory contents, potentially exposing confidential data to unauthorized access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires sophisticated attacker knowledge and precise conditions to succeed. Attackers must first identify specific memory address locations where objects were created within Word's memory space, then craft malicious document files that trigger the flawed memory handling behavior. This process involves understanding Word's internal object model and memory allocation patterns, making it a complex attack vector that typically requires advanced technical expertise. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within Word's processing engine, where the application fails to properly sanitize or secure memory regions containing object data during normal document operations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and potentially CWE-125, "Out-of-bounds Read," when considering the memory access patterns involved in the exploitation process.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-1583 extends beyond simple data leakage to potentially enable full system compromise through a chain of exploitation techniques. When successful, attackers can extract memory contents that may include sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in Word's memory space. This information disclosure capability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data exfiltration operations. The vulnerability particularly impacts environments where Word documents are frequently opened, as the attack surface increases with document interaction frequency. Organizations using Microsoft Word in enterprise environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited through social engineering campaigns that trick users into opening malicious documents.
Microsoft's remediation approach for this vulnerability focuses on modifying Word's internal memory handling functions to prevent the improper disclosure of object contents. The update addresses the root cause by changing how Word processes and manages objects in memory, ensuring that sensitive information is properly secured during document operations. This fix typically involves implementing additional memory sanitization steps, improving object reference management, and strengthening the memory protection mechanisms within Word's document processing pipeline. The mitigation strategy aligns with standard security practices for memory-related vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of proper memory management and access control within applications. Organizations should implement this security update immediately to protect against potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious document files without requiring user interaction beyond opening the compromised file. The fix represents a defensive programming approach that prevents unauthorized memory access patterns while maintaining normal Word functionality and user experience.