High severity · published Apr 3, 2009
CVE-2009-0556
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Code Injection Vulnerability
In wildKEV
8.8
CVSS
67.3%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009 by Exploit:Win32/Apptom.gen, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)67.3% · higher than 99% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed Jan 7, 2026
Federal remediation dueJan 28, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OF
Office · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: KEV
OP
Office Powerpoint · Microsoft
2004 · source: NVD
PO
Powerpoint · Microsoft
2000; 2002; 2003 · source: NVD
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
[CISA KEV] CVE-2009-0556: Microsoft Office - Microsoft Office PowerPoint Code Injection Vulnerability
Microsoft Office PowerPoint contains a code injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption.
OFOfficeCVE-2009-0556
Jan 7, 2026·CISA KEV
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-0556
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-0556
CISA KEV catalogue
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
x_refsource_MISC
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-019
x_refsource_CONFIRM
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploits-using-powerpoint-files.aspx
vdb-entry
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1290
vdb-entry
http://osvdb.org/53182
vendor-advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-017
vdb-entry
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49632
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