CVE-2025-21395: Microsoft Access Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
High (CVSS 7.8)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Remote Code Execution
Exploit Status
Not Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Less Likely
Publicly Disclosed
Yes
Patch Tuesday
2025-Jan
Released
2025-01-14
Last Updated
2025-02-11
EPSS Score
1.85% (percentile: 83.0%)

FAQ

According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is local (AV:L). Why does the CVE title indicate that this is a remote code execution? The word Remote in the title refers to the location of the attacker. This type of exploit is sometimes referred to as Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE). The attack itself is carried out locally. For example, when the score indicates that the Attack Vector is Local and User Interaction is Required, this could describe an exploit in which an attacker, through social engineering, convinces a victim to download and open a specially crafted file from a website which leads to a local attack on their computer. How does the update protect against this vulnerability? The update blocks potentially malicious extensions from being sent in an email. Which types of extensions are blocked? The following extensions which will be blocked: accdb accde accdw accdt accda accdr accdu Is there any notification indicating an email contained a blocked extension? The email recipient will get a notification that there was an attachment but it cannot be accessed. Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector.

Affected Products (10)

Microsoft Office

  • Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft Access 2016 (32-bit edition)
  • Microsoft Access 2016 (64-bit edition)

Security Updates (2)

Acknowledgments

<a href="https://www.unpatched.ai">Unpatched.ai</a>

Revision History

  • 2025-01-14: Information published.
  • 2025-01-27: Added an FAQ to indicate that the Preview Pane is not affected for this CVE. This is an informational change only.
  • 2025-02-11: To comprehensively address CVE-2025-21395 Microsoft has released secuirty update 5002688 for supported editions of Microsoft Access 2016. Microsoft recommends that customers install the update to be fully protected from the vulnerability. Customers whose systems are configured to receive automatic updates do not need to take any further action.