A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange server due to improper validation of cmdlet arguments. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the System user. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires an authenticated user in a certain Exchange role to be compromised. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Exchange handles cmdlet arguments.
CVE-2020-16875
Score elevated to 8.6 because EPSS predicts 47% probability of exploitation within the next 30 days (top 1.3% of all CVEs). NVD baseline CVSS 8.4 retained for reference. Confidence: see factors.
- Public exploit code is available (Metasploit, epss top5pct, public exploit)
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- 8.4
- EG Score
- 8.6(high)
- EG Risk
- 69(Track)EG Risk 69/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity86% × 45%Exploitation65% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 47%
- EPSS %ILE
- 99%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
September 11, 2020
Last Modified
February 23, 2026
References (4)
- secure@microsofthttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159210/Microsoft-Exchange-Server-DlpUtils-AddTenantDlpPolicy-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- secure@microsofthttps://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16875
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159210/Microsoft-Exchange-Server-DlpUtils-AddTenantDlpPolicy-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16875
Weakness Classification(3)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
All Vendor Advisories
(1)
Every vendor that published an advisory referencing this CVE — pulled from our cve_vendor_advisories aggregation. Click any row for the vendor's original advisory page.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 10× in last 7d / 27× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-27 14:06 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-23 01:50 UTCEG score recompute▲ 0.20
- 2026-07-22 22:35 UTCEG score recompute▼ 0.60
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- 2026-06-28 04:54 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-05-27 13:39 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 23:14 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-26 23:14 UTCVendor advisory
- 2026-05-26 23:14 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-26 07:17 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:17 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(1 reference)Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Metasploit module). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Metasploitexploit/windows/http/exchange_ecp_dlp_policy✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 12, 2021
Microsoft Exchange Server DlpUtils AddTenantDlpPolicy RCE
Open source ↗
Related CVEs(same vendor + same CWE)
Same vendor
10 shownmsrc
Same CWE
10 shownCWE-94 · CWE-269 · CWE-74
- CVE-2003-1432EG 10.0EPSS p94HIGH
- CVE-2002-0495EG 10.0EPSS p96HIGH
- CVE-1999-0702EG 10.0EPSS p98HIGH
- CVE-1999-0509EG 10.0EPSS p98HIGH
- CVE-2003-5001NVD 5.3EG 9.8CRITICAL
- CVE-2005-3056EG 9.8CRITICAL
- CVE-2005-3650EG 9.3EPSS p93HIGH
- CVE-2002-0367NVD 7.8EG 9.0 KEVEPSS p91CRITICAL
- CVE-1999-0084EG 8.4HIGH
- CVE-2003-1599EG 7.5HIGH
Frequently asked(5)
What is CVE-2020-16875?
When was CVE-2020-16875 disclosed?
Is CVE-2020-16875 actively exploited?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-16875?
How do I remediate CVE-2020-16875?
Dependency Blast Radius
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