Local code execution via use-after-free
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Use-after-free in Microsoft Office allows local users to execute code by triggering the memory-safety flaw on an affected system. Microsoft has not disclosed the affected component, freed object, or operation that reuses it. Exploitation requires local access but no prior privileges or user interaction, and successful execution runs code in the affected Office process context.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Microsoft Office allows local users to execute code by triggering the memory-safety flaw on an affected system. Microsoft has not disclosed the affected component, freed object, or operation that reuses it. Exploitation requires local access but no prior privileges or user interaction, and successful execution runs code in the affected Office process context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-20952
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=16.0.0 <16.105.26011018
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
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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