CVE-2021-31940

User-assisted arbitrary code execution

Published Jun 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Remote code execution in Microsoft Office Graphics allows attackers to run arbitrary code when a user opens a specially crafted Office file. Microsoft has not published the affected graphics-processing locus or the wrong operation it performs on file content. The Preview Pane is not an attack vector; exploitation requires opening the file and executes code with the user's application privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Remote code execution in Microsoft Office Graphics allows attackers to run arbitrary code when a user opens a specially crafted Office file. Microsoft has not published the affected graphics-processing locus or the wrong operation it performs on file content. The Preview Pane is not an attack vector; exploitation requires opening the file and executes code with the user's application privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31940
Published
Jun 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office 2016
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 8, 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 <16.0.5173.1000

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2016version=16.0.0 <16.0.5173.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2019version=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2013version=15.0.0 <15.0.5353.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2019 for Macversion=16.0.0 <16.50.21061301
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Published CVSS scores

6.8National Institute of Standards and TechnologyAV: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

T1204.002Malicious File

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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