CVE-2023-21715
CVE-2023-21715 is a security flaw in Microsoft Office, part of Microsoft Office. Attackers can get past a security protection in Microsoft Office. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 14 Feb 2023.[1]
Microsoft Office is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases of Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise.
Description
CISA calls it a publisher security feature bypass in Microsoft Office. In its words: “Microsoft Office Publisher contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that allows for a local, authenticated attack on a targeted system.”[1]
The underlying weakness is incorrect authorization (CWE-863), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 7.3 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
Every device with Microsoft Office needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 14 Feb 2023, within a day of it being made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 7 Mar 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 12%. That’s in the top 4% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Microsoft Office now.On Windows: Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates, then restart. Office updates come the same way, or from any Office app: File, Account, Update Options. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases or later.Fixed in version https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases of Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.3.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 12%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft Office flaws
- CVE-2009-0238: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2026-21514: word reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision ·
- CVE-2026-21509: security feature bypass ·
- CVE-2009-0556: powerPoint code injection ·
- CVE-2007-0671: excel remote code execution ·
- CVE-2023-23397: outlook privilege escalation ·
Other Microsoft flaws
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-81963, Microsoft Windows: link following ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
Other incorrect authorization flaws
- CVE-2026-71362, Adobe Commerce and Magento: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2026-42016, JFrog Artifactory: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2025-54253, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms: experience manager forms code execution ·
- CVE-2025-55177, Meta Platforms WhatsApp: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2025-21480, Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets: incorrect authorization ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-23529, Apple devices: webKit type confusion ·
- CVE-2023-23376, Microsoft Windows: common log file system (CLFS) driver privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2023-21823, Microsoft Windows: graphic component privilege escalation ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in February 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Office Publisher Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 14 Feb 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-21715 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 14 Feb 2023.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com, msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.120, percentile 96.1, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-21715”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.