# CVE-2026-35436: Microsoft Office Click-to-Run privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35436-microsoft-office-click-to-run-privilege-escalation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-12. Updated: 2026-05-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35436 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-05-12

A security vulnerability in the Microsoft Office installation and update service could allow a user with limited access to gain full administrative control over a computer. This component is responsible for managing how Office applications are installed and kept up to date on Windows systems. If exploited, an attacker who already has a foothold on a machine could bypass security restrictions to access sensitive data or disrupt operations.

Technologies: [Microsoft Office Click-to-Run](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/office-click-to-run). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35436 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35436 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35436?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 12 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Office Click-to-Run.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35436?** 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-2026-35436 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35436?** Check whether you run Microsoft Office Click-to-Run. 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.

## Technical details

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Click-to-Run due to insufficient granularity of access control (CWE-1220). An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this flaw to gain elevated system permissions. The vulnerability is characterized by a 'Changed Scope' (S:C) in the CVSS vector, indicating that the impact extends beyond the security scope of the Click-to-Run component itself. Successful exploitation allows for complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected host. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Office Click-to-Run

## Timeline

- 2026-05-12: disclosed
- 2026-05-12: advisory

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35436](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35436)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Office Click-to-Run privilege escalation via use-after-free](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-47293-microsoft-office-click-to-run-privilege-escalation-via-use-after)
- [Microsoft Office Click-to-Run improper access control privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40420-microsoft-office-click-to-run-improper-access-control-privilege)
- [Microsoft Office Click-to-Run use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40418-microsoft-office-click-to-run-use-after-free-privilege-escalation)