CVE-2023-28287

Code execution via use-after-free during file opening

Published Jun 17, 2023 · Updated Feb 28, 2025

Use-after-free in Microsoft Publisher for affected Office releases allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted file. Publisher reuses memory after freeing it while processing the document, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected parser, object, or file format. Exploitation requires a victim to open attacker-controlled content and can run code in that user's security context, affecting data and application availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.74%
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 Microsoft Publisher for affected Office releases allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted file. Publisher reuses memory after freeing it while processing the document, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected parser, object, or file format. Exploitation requires a victim to open attacker-controlled content and can run code in that user's security context, affecting data and application availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28287
Published
Jun 17, 2023
Updated
Feb 28, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office 2019
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2019version=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft Publisher 2016version=16.0.0 <16.0.5391.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Publisher 2013version=15.0.0 <15.0.5545.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC 2021version=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Published CVSS scores

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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
T1204.002Malicious 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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