Microsoft Office Word: Remote code execution vulnerability
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Word allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute code remotely. The attack requires the victim to open a crafted document, for example one received by email or downloaded from a link. The CVSS base score is 8.8 (High), and Microsoft has rated the maximum severity as Important.
Affected
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise: 16.0.1 up to the fixed build (see Microsoft security release notes)
- Microsoft Office 365 for Mac: 1.0.0 before 16.115.26110837
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021: 16.0.1 before 16.0.14334.21048
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2024: 16.0.0 before 16.0.17932.21140
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021: 16.0.1 before 16.115.26110837
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024: 16.0.0 before 16.115.26110837
Fixed in
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise: Fixed in the Microsoft Office security release (build number unknown)
- Microsoft Office 365 for Mac: 16.115.26110837
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021: 16.0.14334.21048
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2024: 16.0.17932.21140
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 and 2024: 16.115.26110837
Workaround
No vendor workaround known. Install the security update. If patching is delayed, enable Protected View for files from the internet and email, block macros, and filter suspicious attachments. These are general measures, not vendor guidance for this CVE.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total
- No public proof of concept or in-the-wild exploitation found at the time of research
- Unknown whether the flaw is reachable without user interaction, for example via the Preview Pane
Our recommendation
- Install the Microsoft Office security update on the next maintenance window and prioritise staff who handle external documents
- Confirm that Microsoft 365 and Office update channels install the November 2026 updates
- Filter and sandbox email attachments and downloaded documents
- Monitor for unusual Word process activity and review Office inventory for affected versions
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-110050 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-110050 www.cve.org
- Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday (context) cybersecuritynews.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 10 Nov 2026, 23:46.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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