CVE-2023-36413 is a security feature bypass vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019, specifically version 19.0.0. This vulnerability allows an attacker to circumvent certain security mechanisms implemented within the Office suite. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (6.5 medium severity), the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L) and does not require privileges (PR:N). However, it does require user interaction (UI:R), such as opening a malicious document. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality (C:N) but has a high impact on integrity (I:H), indicating that an attacker could manipulate or alter data or processes within the Office application. Availability is not impacted (A:N). The exploitability is rated as unproven (E:U), and the remediation level is official (RL:O) with confirmed reports (RC:C). No known exploits are currently active in the wild. The vulnerability likely involves bypassing protections such as macro security, sandboxing, or other embedded security features designed to prevent malicious code execution or unauthorized modifications within Office documents. Since no patch links are provided, it is critical for organizations to monitor Microsoft’s official channels for updates. The vulnerability’s requirement for user interaction suggests that social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to deliver malicious documents to victims, enabling exploitation. Given the widespread use of Microsoft Office 2019 in enterprise environments, this vulnerability represents a significant risk vector if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-36413 could be substantial, particularly in sectors heavily reliant on Microsoft Office for document processing and collaboration, such as finance, government, legal, and healthcare. The high integrity impact means attackers could alter documents, potentially leading to misinformation, fraud, or sabotage of business processes. Since availability and confidentiality are not directly impacted, the primary concern is unauthorized modification of data or execution of malicious code within Office documents. This could facilitate further attacks, including lateral movement or deployment of additional malware. The requirement for user interaction means that phishing remains the primary attack vector, which is a common and effective method in Europe’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as threat actors often develop exploits rapidly after vulnerability disclosure. Organizations with large deployments of Office 2019, especially those with less mature email filtering or user awareness programs, are at higher risk. Additionally, critical infrastructure and public sector entities in Europe could be targeted due to their strategic importance and reliance on Office products.

1. Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to reduce the likelihood of malicious documents reaching end users. 2. Enhance user awareness training focused on recognizing phishing attempts and the risks of enabling macros or opening unexpected attachments. 3. Enforce application control policies that restrict execution of unauthorized macros or scripts within Office documents. 4. Utilize Microsoft Defender for Office 365 or similar advanced threat protection tools that can detect and block malicious content. 5. Monitor for updates from Microsoft and apply patches promptly once available, as no official patch links are currently provided. 6. Consider deploying Office 365 or later versions with improved security features if feasible, as they may have mitigations not present in Office 2019. 7. Employ network segmentation and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and contain any exploitation attempts. 8. Disable or restrict legacy features in Office 2019 that are commonly abused by attackers, such as embedded macros or ActiveX controls, where business processes allow. 9. Regularly audit and review Office macro policies and document handling procedures to minimize exposure.