Remote code execution via unsafe Moniker parsing
Published Feb 13, 2024 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Improper input validation in Microsoft Outlook in affected Office releases allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted email. Outlook passes a crafted file-scheme Moniker Link to MkParseDisplayName, which resolves attacker-controlled remote content outside Protected View. Microsoft scores the flaw as requiring no user interaction, while the published Moniker Link demonstration requires the recipient to activate the link; exploitation can disclose NTLM credentials or run code in the user's context.
Summary
What happened
Improper input validation in Microsoft Outlook in affected Office releases allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted email. Outlook passes a crafted file-scheme Moniker Link to MkParseDisplayName, which resolves attacker-controlled remote content outside Protected View. Microsoft scores the flaw as requiring no user interaction, while the published Moniker Link demonstration requires the recipient to activate the link; exploitation can disclose NTLM credentials or run code in the user's context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-21413
- Published
- Feb 13, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016
- Classifications
- CWE-20, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 6, 2025Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry
- Aug 10, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=16.0.0 <16.0.5435.1001
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- ThemeHackers CVE-2024-21413 email PoCproof of concept · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entryknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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