Local code execution via use-after-free
Published May 12, 2026 · Updated May 12, 2026
Use-after-free in Microsoft Office Word allows local users to execute arbitrary code through locally initiated document processing. Microsoft identifies the memory-lifetime error as a use-after-free but has not published the affected Word parser, object type, or triggering input. Exploitation requires local access, needs no prior privileges or user interaction, and runs code in the affected Word process context.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Microsoft Office Word allows local users to execute arbitrary code through locally initiated document processing. Microsoft identifies the memory-lifetime error as a use-after-free but has not published the affected Word parser, object type, or triggering input. Exploitation requires local access, needs no prior privileges or user interaction, and runs code in the affected Word process context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-40361
- Published
- May 12, 2026
- Updated
- May 12, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 12, 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 <16.109.26051019
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.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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