High severity · published Jan 13, 2026
CVE-2026-20944
Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally
8.4
CVSS
0.5%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.5% · higher than 43% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OF
Office · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
OL
Office Long Term Servicing Channel · Microsoft
2021; 2024 · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20944
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20944
Vendor Advisory
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20944
More from Office
9.8
CVE-2024-21413
Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
9.8
CVE-2023-23397
Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2024-38189
Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2023-35311
Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2019-1297
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability