CVE-2026-21509
Microsoft Office contains a security feature bypass vulnerability in which reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision in Microsoft Office…
Browse: All 2026 CVEs · All vendors
- CVSS score
- 7.8 High
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- CISA KEV
- Yes — actively exploited (added 2026-01-26, remediation due 2026-02-16)
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-807
- Published
- 2026-01-26
- Last modified
- 2026-06-25
- NVD status
- Analyzed
Description
Microsoft Office contains a security feature bypass vulnerability in which reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision in Microsoft Office could allow an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature locally. Some of the impacted product(s) could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users are advised to discontinue use and/or transition to a supported version.
Affected products
- microsoft 365 apps
- microsoft office
- microsoft office long term servicing channel
Affected ranges per NVD CPE data; confirm exact versions in the vendor advisory.
Required action (CISA)
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Federal remediation deadline: 2026-02-16.
How to prioritize this
This vulnerability is on the CISA KEV list, meaning it is being actively exploited — treat it as urgent regardless of the raw CVSS number. Use the live CVE lookup for the latest NVD data, and the CVSS 3.1 calculator to model your own environmental score.
References
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21509
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-21509-detection-script-microsoft-office-security-feature-bypass-vulnerability
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-21509-mitigation-script-microsoft-office-security-feature-bypass-vulnerability
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-21509
FAQ
Is CVE-2026-21509 actively exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2026-21509 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2026-01-26, with a federal remediation deadline of 2026-02-16. A KEV listing means real-world exploitation is confirmed, so patching this should be prioritized above many higher-CVSS bugs that aren't being exploited.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-21509?
CVE-2026-21509 has a CVSS base score of 7.8 (High). Its vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Related vulnerabilities
- CVE-2009-0238 — Microsoft Office
- CVE-2026-21514 — Microsoft Office
- CVE-2009-0556 — Microsoft Office
- CVE-2007-0671 — Microsoft Office
- CVE-2023-23397 — Microsoft Office
- CVE-2023-21715 — Microsoft Office
Data source: NVD & CISA KEV. Shown as-is; nothing added. Last generated from NVD data — re-check the live tool for updates.
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