# CVE-2016-3235: Microsoft Office OLE DLL Side Loading Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-3235-microsoft-office-ole-dll-side-loading-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-3235 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Microsoft Office Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) dynamic link library (DLL) contains a side loading vulnerability due to improper input validation before loading libraries. This flaw allows local users to gain privileges or execute remote code via a crafted application or file.

Technologies: [Microsoft Office](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/office). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-3235 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2016-3235 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2016-3235?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Visio 2007 SP3; Microsoft Visio 2010 SP2; Microsoft Visio 2013 SP1; Microsoft Visio 2016; and 2 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-3235?** A patch was published on 2016-06-14: Microsoft released security bulletin MS16-070 to address this vulnerability. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-3235 attacked?** It is attacked with local access or over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-3235?** Check whether you run Microsoft Office. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Visio 2007 SP3
- Microsoft Visio 2010 SP2
- Microsoft Visio 2013 SP1
- Microsoft Visio 2016
- Microsoft Visio Viewer 2007 SP3
- Microsoft Visio Viewer 2010

## Timeline

- 2016-06-14: patched: Microsoft released security bulletin MS16-070 to address this vulnerability.
- 2021-11-03: kev added: CISA added this vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
- 2021-11-03: disclosed: NVD publication date.
- 2021-11-03: exploited: Vulnerability confirmed as exploited in the wild per CISA KEV catalog.

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- [Microsoft Office heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122198-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-allows-an)
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- [Microsoft Office UI security feature bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119998-product-ui-does-not-warn-user-of-unsafe-actions-in-microsoft)
- [Microsoft Office heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116717-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-allows-an)
