Microsoft Office Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Published August 11, 2026Updated August 11, 2026
Source data
Overview
Buffer over-read in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
Impact & technical details
Remote Code Execution
According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is local (AV:L). Why does the CVE title indicate that this is a remote code execution? The word Remote in the title refers to the location of the attacker. This type of exploit is sometimes referred to as Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE). The attack itself is carried out locally. This means an attacker or victim needs to execute code from the local machine to exploit the vulnerability.
According to the CVSS metric, user interaction is required (UI:R). What interaction would the user have to do? An attacker must send a user a malicious Office file and convince them to open it.
Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector.
- CVSS base score
- 7.8 / 10
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Highest base score supplied by MSRC for this record; the vector belongs to that score. Ratings can vary by product. Microsoft Important is displayed as High; Moderate is displayed as Medium.
Affected products
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems
- Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions
- Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions
- Microsoft Office 365 for Mac
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 64-bit editions
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 32-bit editions
Show all 13 affected products
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 64-bit editions
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
- Microsoft Word 2016 (32-bit edition)
- Microsoft Word 2016 (64-bit edition)
Source guidance
Remediation
- Click to Run
- Release Notes
At least one Microsoft vendor-fix reference is available. Check each affected product for its applicable update, prerequisites, and supported version.
GTP recommendation · Rule-based guidance
Recommended next step
Review affected Microsoft products and apply the applicable security updates through your organization's normal patch-management process. Confirm availability and prerequisites in the Microsoft advisory.
Authoritative sources & updates
Findings and update information come from the linked publishers. GTP compiles the public record and provides the recommendation above. CVSS ratings shown here come from Microsoft. NVD references provide additional public context.
- Microsoft Security Response Center (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft remediation guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft security update · Release Notes (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft security update · 5002901 (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft remediation guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft security update · Release Notes (opens in a new tab)
Managed by GTP?
Griffin Technology Partners managed customers may receive additional environment-specific security guidance and remediation assistance through their managed services relationship.
Security bulletins are provided for informational purposes and compiled from authoritative public sources. Vulnerability applicability varies by environment. Validate affected products, configuration, compatibility requirements, and vendor guidance before making production changes.
