HowTo-Outlook

Microsoft has just released the February feature update of Outlook for Office 365 (Monthly Channel) and it comes with 1 new feature for Outlook and 6 fixes.

• Updates to the Outlook Folder Pane
  The new folder list that is coming with Aesthetic v1 will have an update look & feel and Groups will be elevated to the same hierarchy as Folders and Favorites.
• Addresses an issue that caused commas in the location field of a meeting to turn into semicolons.
• Addresses an issue that could result in a crash when viewing the same item in multiple windows.
• Addresses an issue that caused the option to disable flagged item highlighting to fail to be respected in some scenarios.
• Addresses an issue that caused Outlook to unexpectedly sync all mail even when the sync slider is set to a smaller setting.
• Addresses an issue that caused users with Black Theme to see the “From” dropdown show white text on a white background.
• This change restores the ability to view multi-line subjects in the message header.

Note: Depending on your installation type, this update can be installed via the Update Now button in Outlook or the Microsoft Store and updates Outlook to: Version 2002 (Build 12527.20194).

A new rollup update has been made available for all Click-to-Run installations of Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019 and Outlook as part of an Office 365 subscription.

It contains 3 security updates for Outlook (1), Excel (1) and Office (1). Details about the Outlook vulnerabilities;

• CVE-2020-0696: Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
  A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when it improperly handles the parsing of URI formats. The security feature bypass by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, to successfully exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to use it in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability, to take advantage of the security feature bypass vulnerability and run arbitrary code.
  To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URI with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software.
  The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Outlook handles the parsing of URI formats.

In addition, it contains 2 documented non-security fixes for Outlook Monthly, 6 for Semi-Annual 1908 (including Targeted) and 1 for Semi-Annual 1902. Most notable fixes are;

• Monthly: Addresses an issue that caused users to experience a crash when canceling account setup.
• Monthly and Semi-Annual 1908: Addresses an issue that caused users to experience a crash when specifying an invalid From address.
• Semi-Annual 1908: Addresses an issue that caused users to have problems problems with shared calendar folders syncing to the OST, resulting in permission errors when they try to interact with these folders.
• Semi-Annual 1908: Addressed an issue that caused users to experience a hang at the Loading Profile screen when Outlook is starting up.
• Semi-Annual 1902: Addresses an issue that caused users to encounter encryption algorithm is not supported errors when sending an encrypted email.

Based on your release channel, you’ll be updated to the following version;

• Office 365, Outlook 2016 Retail, Outlook 2019 Retail
  Version 2001 (Build 12430.20264)
• Office 365 Semi Annual (Targeted)
  Version 1908 (Build 11929.20606)
• Office 365 Semi Annual
  Version 1908 (Build 11929.20606)
  Version 1902 (Build 11328.20526)
  Version 1808 (Build 10730.20438)
• Outlook 2019 Volume License
  Version 1808 (Build 10356.20006)

Note: Depending on your installation type, this update can be installed via the Update Now button in Outlook itself or the Microsoft Store. This update does not apply to msi-based installation of Office 2016.

A Security Update has been released for Outlook 2016. It resolves the following vulnerability;

• CVE-2020-0696: Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
  A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when it improperly handles the parsing of URI formats. The security feature bypass by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, to successfully exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to use it in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability, to take advantage of the security feature bypass vulnerability and run arbitrary code.
  To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URI with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software.
  The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Outlook handles the parsing of URI formats.

This update also contains 3 additional fixes or improvements for non-security issues;

• Adds the ability to prevent Outlook from connecting to a mailbox that uses basic authentication by using the DisableBasic registry key.
• Large blank spaces appear between the first and second columns in the contact item after an East Asian language pack is applied to Outlook.
• Outlook may stop responding when you create a rule from a Skype for Business “missed conversation” message.

View: Download information for KB4484250

Note: This update can be installed via Microsoft Update and updates Outlook to version 16.0.4966.1000. This update does not apply to Perpetual and Office 365 based installations of Office 2016.

A Security Update has been released for Outlook 2013. It resolves the following vulnerability;

• CVE-2020-0696: Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
  A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when it improperly handles the parsing of URI formats. The security feature bypass by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, to successfully exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to use it in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability, to take advantage of the security feature bypass vulnerability and run arbitrary code.
  To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URI with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software.
  The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Outlook handles the parsing of URI formats.

View: Download information for KB4484156

Note: This update can be installed via Microsoft Update or the Update Now button when you are using Office 2013 Click-To-Run and updates Outlook to version 15.0.5215.1000.

A Security Update has been released for Outlook 2010. It resolves the following vulnerability;

• CVE-2020-0696: Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
  A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Outlook software when it improperly handles the parsing of URI formats. The security feature bypass by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, to successfully exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to use it in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability, to take advantage of the security feature bypass vulnerability and run arbitrary code.
  To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URI with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook software.
  The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Outlook handles the parsing of URI formats.

View: Download information for KB4484163

Note: This update can be installed via Microsoft Update and updates Outlook to version 14.0.7245.5000.

Security updates have been released for Exchange 2010, Exchange 2013, Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019.

• CVE-2020-0688: Microsoft Exchange Validation Key Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server when the server fails to properly create unique keys at install time.
  Knowledge of a the validation key allows an authenticated user with a mailbox to pass arbitrary objects to be deserialized by the web application, which runs as SYSTEM.
  The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Exchange creates the keys during install.
• CVE-2020-0692: Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
  An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same rights as any other user of the Exchange server. This could allow the attacker to perform activities such as accessing the mailboxes of other users.
  Exploitation of this vulnerability requires Exchange Web Services (EWS) to be enabled and in use in an affected environment. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would need to change parameters in the Security Access Token and forward it to a Microsoft Exchange Server, thereby allowing impersonation of another Exchange user.
  To address this vulnerability, Microsoft has changed the way EWS handles these tokens.
  This vulnerability does not apply to Exchange 2010.

The updates for Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2013 also contain the following fix;

• KB4540267: MSExchangeDelivery.exe or EdgeTransport.exe crashes in Exchange Server 2013 and Exchange Server 2010

View: Description of the security update for Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 and 2016: February 11, 2020
View: Description of the security update for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: February 11, 2020
View: Description of the security update for Microsoft Exchange Server 2010: February 11, 2020
Download: Security Update For Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 4 (KB4536987)
Download: Security Update For Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 3 (KB4536987)
Download: Security Update For Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 15 (KB4536987)
Download: Security Update For Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 14 (KB4536987)
Download: Security Update For Exchange Server 2013 CU23 (KB4536988)
Download: Update Rollup 30 for Exchange Server 2010 SP3 (KB4536989)

Microsoft has just released the January feature update of Outlook for Office 365 (Monthly Channel) and it comes with 2 new features for Outlook.

• Advanced group email settings
  This feature helps groups users to customize which emails or events to receive/follow in their inbox.
• Groups Naming policy
  A group naming policy enables the IT admin to standardize and manage the names of groups created by users in the organization. The admin can require a specific prefix and suffix be added to the name for a group when it’s created, and can block specific words from being used. This helps minimize the use of inappropriate words in group names as well as IT manage the representation of groups in their directory. Naming Policy also helps organizations that deploy team sites to categorize them based on department.

It also contains the following notable fix;

• Addresses an issue that caused users to experience crashes when renaming a signature.

Additionally, the Upload Center is being replaced by the Files Needing Attention experience that will show up inside the Office applications under File > Open. This new experience is more modern, integrated, and less intrusive compared to the Upload Center.

Note: Depending on your installation type, this update can be installed via the Update Now button in Outlook or the Microsoft Store and updates Outlook to: Version 2001 (Build 12430.20184).

A new rollup update has been made available for all Click-to-Run installations of Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019 and Outlook as part of an Office 365 subscription.

It contains 4 security updates for Excel (3) and Office (1).

Based on your release channel, you’ll be updated to the following version;

• Office 365, Outlook 2016 Retail, Outlook 2019 Retail
  Version 1912 (Build 12325.20298)
• Office 365 Semi Annual (Targeted)
  Version 1908 (Build 11929.20562)
• Office 365 Semi Annual
  Version 1908 (Build 11929.20562)
  Version 1902 (Build 11328.20512)
  Version 1808 (Build 10730.20432)
• Outlook 2019 Volume License
  Version 1808 (Build 10354.20022)

Note: Depending on your installation type, this update can be installed via the Update Now button in Outlook itself or the Microsoft Store. This update does not apply to msi-based installation of Office 2016.

We are already a good few days into the New Year but due to the holidays, Microsoft still hadn’t released the December feature update of Outlook for Office 365 (Monthly Channel); Well, they have now and it comes with 1 new feature for Outlook.

• Send accessible mail to those who need it most
  Outlook will display a mail tip to help you ensure that your content is accessible when sending to a user who prefers accessible content.

There are also several notable fixes;

• Addresses an issue that caused the location of a meeting to get added back to the meeting unexpectedly after clearing it.
• Addresses an issue that caused users to see a noticeable delay when interacting with their mailbox folders through keyboard shortcuts.
• Addresses an issue that caused users to see emails sent to an address that did not match the displayed SMTP address in some circumstances.
• Addresses an issue that caused users to experience hangs in Outlook when retrieving Cloud Settings.

Note: Depending on your installation type, this update can be installed via the Update Now button in Outlook or the Microsoft Store and updates Outlook to: Version 1912 (Build 12325.20288).

A Rollup Update has been released for Outlook 2016. This is a non-security update which contains the following documented improvements fixes.

• When an email message that has a signed email message as an attachment is also signed, Outlook breaks the digital signature of the attached message.
• This update changes the default signature hash algorithm for Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) messages and enables administrators to manage it by setting the UseAlternateDefaultHashAlg registry key.
• Memory leaks occur when toast notifications are enabled.
• When the display size is scaled to more than 100 percent in Windows 10, mailbox elements are not displayed correctly in the additional mailboxes list box on the Advanced tab in Microsoft Exchange dialog box. Additionally, it is difficult to recognize them.
• When the weather service isn’t available, Outlook doesn’t stop making service calls after it receives an HTTP 404 error. This causes a heavy network load.

View: Download information for KB4484212

Note: This update can be installed via Microsoft Update and updates Outlook to version 16.0.4954.1000. This update does not apply to Perpetual and Office 365 based installations of Office 2016.