CVE-2021-38646: Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2021-38646 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-28

The Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine contains a vulnerability that allows for remote code execution when a user opens a specially crafted file. The flaw stems from an unspecified memory corruption issue within the engine used by various Microsoft Office products.

Technologies: Microsoft Office. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2021-38646 exploited in the wild?
Yes. CVE-2021-38646 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 28 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.
How severe is CVE-2021-38646?
Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 28 March 2022.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1; Microsoft Office 2016; Microsoft Office 2019; Microsoft Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise; and 1 more.
Is there a fix for CVE-2021-38646?
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-2021-38646 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2021-38646?
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 2013 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Office 2016
  • Microsoft Office 2019
  • Microsoft Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
  • Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine

Timeline

  • 2021-09-15: disclosed: NVD Published Date
  • 2022-03-28: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

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