# CVE-2023-21715: Microsoft Office Publisher Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-21715-microsoft-office-publisher-security-feature-bypass-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-02-14. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-21715 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.3 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-02-14

Microsoft Office Publisher contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that allows a local, authenticated attacker to bypass security restrictions. The vulnerability requires user interaction and can lead to a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-21715 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2023-21715 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 14 February 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2023-21715?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.3, published 14 February 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Publisher; Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-21715?** A patch was published on 2023-02-14. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-21715 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-21715?** 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 Publisher
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

## Timeline

- 2023-02-14: disclosed
- 2023-02-14: patched
- 2023-02-14: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-02-14: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild at time of publication.

## 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)