CVE-2023-21716: Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 84.8% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2023-02-14 · updated 2026-08-19
Weakness: CWE-190

Description

Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Affected products

Microsoft Office: 2019
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021: 2021
Microsoft Office Online Server: 2016
Microsoft Office Web Apps: 2013-sp1
Microsoft SharePoint Server: 2013-sp1, 2016
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1: 2013-sp1
Microsoft SharePoint Server: 2019
Microsoft Word for Android: 2013-sp1
Microsoft 365 Apps: from 16.0.1 before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases — fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac: from 16.0.0 before 16.70.23021201 — fixed in 16.70.23021201
Microsoft Office LTSC 2021: from 16.0.1 before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases — fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013 Service Pack 1: from 15.0.1 before 15.0.5529.1000 — fixed in 15.0.5529.1000
Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2013 Service Pack 1: from 15.0.0 before 15.0.5529.1000 — fixed in 15.0.5529.1000
Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Edition: from 16.0.0 before 16.0.15601.20478 — fixed in 16.0.15601.20478
Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1: from 15.0.1 before 15.0.5529.1000 — fixed in 15.0.5529.1000
Microsoft Word 2016: from 16.0.1 before 16.0.5383.1000 — fixed in 16.0.5383.1000
Microsoft Office: from 19.0.0 before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases — fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021: from 16.0.1 before 16.70.23021201 — fixed in 16.70.23021201
Microsoft Office Online Server: from 16.0.1 before 16.0.10395.20001 — fixed in 16.0.10395.20001
Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server 2016: from 16.0.0 before 16.0.5383.1000 — fixed in 16.0.5383.1000
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1: from 15.0.0 before 15.0.5529.1000 — fixed in 15.0.5529.1000
Microsoft SharePoint Server: from 16.0.0 before 16.0.10395.20001 — fixed in 16.0.10395.20001
Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Language Pack: from 16.0.0 before 16.0.15601.20478 — fixed in 16.0.15601.20478

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft 365 Apps https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases; Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac 16.70.23021201; Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases; Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013 Service Pack 1 15.0.5529.1000; Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2013 Service Pack 1 15.0.5529.1000; Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Edition 16.0.15601.20478; Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1 15.0.5529.1000; Microsoft Word 2016 16.0.5383.1000; Microsoft Office https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases; Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 16.70.23021201; Microsoft Office Online Server 16.0.10395.20001; Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server 2016 16.0.5383.1000. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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