Microsoft Color Management Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Color Management Module (ICM32.dll) handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability and then convince users to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email or Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Color Management Module handles objects in memory.
- Published
- May 21, 2020
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- EPSS
- 4.0% · 90th percentile
- CWE
- —
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Report tools
Action score
36
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 35 / 40 · 8.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 4.0%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 8.8
- CNA · microsoft
- 8.8
- agree
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows 10 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10 |
| microsoft | windows server 2016 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016 |
| microsoft | windows server 2019 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019 |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- microsoft windows server 2016all versions
- microsoft windows server 2019all versions
- microsoft windows server 20191903
- microsoft windows server 20191909
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (microsoft). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607
- 10.0.14393.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809
- 10.0.17763.0 and later · before publicationaffected
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909
- 10.0.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- 10.0.14393.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
- 10.0.14393.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Microsoft Windows Server 2019
- 10.0.17763.0 and later · before publicationaffected
Same product
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Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
- msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1117
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1117
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.