Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Priority CRITICAL 93Exploited in the wildPublished · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from Microsoft.
Summary
Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Why it matters now
Exploitation Active In CISA KEV since 2022-03-28CISA due date 2022-04-18Known ransomware use
EPSS 0.07987 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Microsoft): https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleasesMicrosoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft): 5381.1000+2 more products
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Active
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | 16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0 to before 5381.1000 | 5381.1000 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2016 | 16.0.0 to before 5215.1000 | 5215.1000 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2019 | 19.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | Patch available | CNA |
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.0.0 to before 5381.1000 Fixed in 5381.1000 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Office 2016 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before 5215.1000 Fixed in 5215.1000 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Office 2019 VendorMicrosoft Affected 19.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:* | 2013 sp1 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* | 2013 sp1 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x64:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x86:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x64:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x86:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft) Fixed in 5381.1000
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2016 (Microsoft) Fixed in 5215.1000
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Vendor assessments
Microsoft
Microsoft's page for this CVE →
- Impact
- Remote Code Execution
- Exploited
- No
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Exploitability
- Exploitation Less Likely
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems | Fixed | https · //aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems | Fixed | https · //aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
| Microsoft Office 2013 RT Service Pack 1 | Fixed | 5381.1000 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions) | Fixed | 5381.1000 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions) | Fixed | 5381.1000 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Office 2016 (32-bit edition) | Fixed | 5215.1000 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Office 2016 (64-bit edition) | Fixed | 5215.1000 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions | Fixed | https · //aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
| Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions | Fixed | https · //aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases |
Timeline
- 2022-03-28 Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-38646
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-846x-h43v-68x9
References
More Microsoft 365 Apps vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-14173 Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-09240 Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-25471 Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-17652 Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-17368 Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-17363 Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-38646 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-38646 · NVD
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-846x-h43v-68x9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-38646 · Microsoft Security Update Guide
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences