CVE-2023-32541Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary code execution via stale virtual call

Published Sep 26, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Use-after-free in Hancom Office 2020 HWord 11.0.0.7520 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted .doc file. When an RTF document contains at least two footerr elements, HwordApp.dll deallocates an object and later reuses its stale pointer for a virtual call. The victim must open the malformed document; controlled heap grooming can redirect the call and execute code in the application's context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.66%
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 Hancom Office 2020 HWord 11.0.0.7520 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted .doc file. When an RTF document contains at least two footerr elements, HwordApp.dll deallocates an object and later reuses its stale pointer for a virtual call. The victim must open the malformed document; controlled heap grooming can redirect the call and execute code in the application's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32541
Published
Sep 26, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Hancom Inc.
Product
Hancom Office 2020
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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=11.0.0.7520
  2. Affected versionversion=HWord 11.0.0.7520

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Hancom Inc. · Hancom Office 2020version=11.0.0.7520; version=HWord 11.0.0.7520

Published CVSS scores

8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002User Execution Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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