CVE-2026-21509: Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise · Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision
Affects Microsoft 365 Apps for EnterpriseSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · KEV due 16 Feb 2026 · public exploit available · 70% EPSS · fixed in 16.0.5539.1001 : patch Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise now.
Data as of 9 Nov 2026, 23:24 UTC
- KEV deadline
- US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else. Other KEV due dates
- EPSS
- 70.8% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 16.0.5539.1001, 16.0.10417.20095
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:CExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Jan 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Public exploit code: GitHub proofs of concept
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV the same day as disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by Microsoft Corporation
, 27 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
In Threat Radar
record ingested
, 15 minutes after disclosure
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
, the same day as disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
, 21 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), GitHub proofs of concept, CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 9 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade Microsoft Office to 16.0.5539.1001 (2016) or 16.0.10417.20095 (2019).
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| MicrosoftMicrosoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | Affected
| Fixed in– |
| MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2016 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2019 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftMicrosoft Office LTSC 2021 | Affected
| Fixed in– |
| MicrosoftMicrosoft Office LTSC 2024 | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
CVE-2026-21509 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise where reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision allows a local unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is known to be exploited in the wild. An official fix is available from Microsoft.
References
- msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21509 (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-21509 (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-21509-detection-script-microsoft-office-security-feature-bypass-vulnerability (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-21509-mitigation-script-microsoft-office-security-feature-bypass-vulnerability (opens in a new tab)