# CVE-2017-0261: Microsoft Office Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2017-0261-microsoft-office-use-after-free-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2017-0261 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-03

Microsoft Office contains a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) when handling objects in memory. This flaw allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target system if a user opens a specially crafted file.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2017-0261 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2017-0261 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2017-0261?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 March 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Office 2010 SP2; Microsoft Office 2013 SP1; Microsoft Office 2016.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2017-0261?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2017-0261 attacked?** It is attacked over the network or with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2017-0261?** 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 Office 2010 SP2
- Microsoft Office 2013 SP1
- Microsoft Office 2016

## Timeline

- 2017-05-12: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2017-05-12: advisory: MSRC advisory published
- 2022-03-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Office Outlook user warning spoofing vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-124194-microsoft-office-outlook-missing-user-interaction-for)
- [Microsoft Office heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122198-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Office heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120003-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-allows-an)
- [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)