CVE-2026-20943

Local code execution via untrusted search path

Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026

Untrusted search path handling in Microsoft Office Click-to-Run products allows local users to execute code through user interaction. Microsoft identifies the affected locus as Click-to-Run search-path handling but has not disclosed the executable, library, or lookup sequence that accepts an attacker-controlled path. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction and runs attacker-supplied code with the affected user's access to data and services.

CVSS severity7.0
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

Untrusted search path handling in Microsoft Office Click-to-Run products allows local users to execute code through user interaction. Microsoft identifies the affected locus as Click-to-Run search-path handling but has not disclosed the executable, library, or lookup sequence that accepts an attacker-controlled path. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction and runs attacker-supplied code with the affected user's access to data and services.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20943
Published
Jan 13, 2026
Updated
Jan 13, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office 2016
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 13, 2026Record 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=16.0.0 <16.0.5535.1000

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2016version=16.0.0 <16.0.5535.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016version=16.0.0 <16.0.5535.1001
Microsoft · Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019version=16.0.0 <16.0.10417.20083
Microsoft · Office Deployment Toolversion=1.0 <16.0.19426.20170
Microsoft · Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Editionversion=16.0.0 <16.0.19127.20442

Published CVSS scores

7.0Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

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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