CVE-2025-29820: Microsoft Word 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
Patch Tuesday
2025-Apr
Released
2025-04-08
Last Updated
2025-04-15
EPSS Score
0.65% (percentile: 70.8%)

Description

Use after free in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.

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. There are multiple update packages available for some of the affected software. Do I need to install all the updates listed in the Security Updates table for the software? Yes. Customers should apply all updates offered for the software installed on their systems. If multiple updates apply, they can be installed in any order. Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector. Are the updates for Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 and 2024 currently available? Yes. As of April 14, 2025, the security update for Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 and 2024 are available. Customers running Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 and 2024 should ensure the update is installed to be protected from this vulnerability. Is the updates for SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 (KB5002692) currently available? Yes. As of April 15, 2025, the security update (KB5002692) for SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 is available. Customers running SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 should ensure the update is installed to be protected from this vulnerability.

Affected Products (13)

Microsoft Office

  • Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016
  • 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 for Mac 2021
  • 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 Office LTSC for Mac 2024
  • Microsoft Office 2016 (32-bit edition)
  • Microsoft Office 2016 (64-bit edition)

Security Updates (4)

Acknowledgments

Haifei Li with <a href="https://pub.expmon.com/">EXPMON</a>

Revision History

  • 2025-04-08: Information published.
  • 2025-04-10: Revised CVE to inform customers that security update 5002692 is temporarily unavailable following some reports that the update can't be installed. We are currently investigating the issue and will notify customers via a revision to this CVE information when the issue is resolved.
  • 2025-04-15: Microsoft is announcing the availability of the security updates for Microsoft Office for Mac. Customers running affected Mac software should install the update for their product to be protected from this vulnerability. Customers running other Microsoft Office software do not need to take any action. See the Release Notes for more information and download links.
  • 2025-04-15: The security update for SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 (KB5002692) is now available. See the Security Updates table for more information.