CVE-2021-31175

Remote code execution via Graph object use-after-free

Published May 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Use-after-free in the Graph COM object in affected Microsoft Office releases allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted file. The object handler fails to validate that an object still exists before performing operations on it, enabling code execution in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file; the Preview Pane alone does not reach the flaw.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability3.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Graph COM object in affected Microsoft Office releases allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted file. The object handler fails to validate that an object still exists before performing operations on it, enabling code execution in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file; the Preview Pane alone does not reach the flaw.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31175
Published
May 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office 2016
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=16.0.0 <16.0.5161.1000

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2016version=16.0.0 <16.0.5161.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2019version=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft Excel 2016version=16.0.0.0 <16.0.5161.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2013version=15.0.0 <15.0.5345.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Excel 2013version=15.0.0.0 <15.0.5345.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office Online Serverversion=16.0.1 <16.0.10374.20000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013version=15.0.1 <15.0.5345.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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