CVE-2026-88185: Microsoft Office Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
High (CVSS 8.1)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Remote Code Execution
Exploit Status
Not Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Unlikely
Patch Tuesday
2026-Oct
Released
2026-10-13

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

FAQ

Are the updates for the Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac currently available? The security update for Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 and 2024 are not immediately available. The updates will be released as soon as possible, and when they are available, customers will be notified via a revision to this CVE information. According to the CVSS metric, the attack complexity is high (AC:H). What does that mean for this vulnerability? Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to have a deep understanding of the system and the ability to manipulate its components to trigger a specific condition. Successful exploitation is not guaranteed and depends on a combination of factors that may include the environment, system configuration, and the presence of additional security measures. Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? Yes, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.

Affected Products (9)

Microsoft Office

  • 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 365 for Mac

Acknowledgments

Anonymous, 0ccbbf129444eb66344ccafb92b00df4, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/haaeein">Haein Lee</a> with KAIST Hacking Lab, namnp with <a href="https://x.com/vcslab">Viettel Cyber Security</a>, vietnq

Revision History

  • 2026-10-13: Information published.