Summary
Impact: Remote Code Execution. Microsoft rating: Critical. Not known to be exploited — Exploitation Less Likely. Customer action: Required.
Details
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.
Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability?
Yes, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.
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. To address a known issue that customers might experience after installing KB5002700 and that causes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook to stop responding, Microsoft released KB5002623. If you have already installed KB5002700, you must also install KB5002623 to correct the known issue.
If you have not yet installed any updates you must install both updates to correct the known issue. These updates can be installed in any order.
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.
Security updates
https — https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/microsoft365-apps-security-updates
16.96.25041326 — https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=831049
16.0.5495.1002 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5002700
16.0.5495.1002 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5002623
Vulnerabilities 1
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High 7.8
Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Use after free in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
Revision history
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#3
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](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=831049) for more information and download links.
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#2
To address a known issue that customers might experience after installing KB5002700 and that causes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook to stop responding, Microsoft released KB5002623. Customers who have already installed KB5002700 must also install KB5002623 to correct the known issue. Customers who have not yet installed any updates must install both updates to correct the known issue. These updates can be installed in any order.
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#1
Information published.
References
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CVE-2025-27749 Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - HTML
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-27749
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Microsoft Exploitability Index
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/msrc/exploitability-index?rtc=1
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Microsoft Support Lifecycle
https://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle
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Common Vulnerability Scoring System
https://www.first.org/cvss