Remote code execution via malicious file
Published Aug 13, 2024 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Improper input validation in Microsoft Project 2016 and affected Office suites allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file. Microsoft has not disclosed the Project file parser, affected field, or incorrect validation operation that processes the crafted input. Exploitation requires a user to open the file and executes code in that user's security context; CISA reports active exploitation.
Summary
What happened
Improper input validation in Microsoft Project 2016 and affected Office suites allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file. Microsoft has not disclosed the Project file parser, affected field, or incorrect validation operation that processes the crafted input. Exploitation requires a user to open the file and executes code in that user's security context; CISA reports active exploitation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-38189
- Published
- Aug 13, 2024
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-20, T1204.002, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 21, 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.
- Affected versionversion=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog entryknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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