CVE-2016-7262
Published: March 3, 2022
Official Description
A security feature bypass vulnerability exists when Microsoft Office improperly handles input. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute arbitrary commands.
CISA KEV Advisory
Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
A security feature bypass vulnerability exists when Microsoft Office improperly handles input. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute arbitrary commands.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Risk Analysis
A security feature bypass vulnerability in Microsoft Office allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by improperly handling input. The very high EPSS score of 0.87086 indicates a strong likelihood of exploitation, and its inclusion in CISA's KEV confirms active exploitation, making this a critical vulnerability for users of Microsoft Office.
This vulnerability is actively being exploited in the wild. The nature of the flaw suggests it can be exploited remotely, likely through malicious documents.
Users should apply all available security updates for Microsoft Office. Exercise caution when opening untrusted documents and enable macro security settings.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2016-7262 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
CISA has added CVE-2016-7262 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (1)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2016-7262 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
- !CISA KEV: Federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01 timeline
- !Active exploitation confirmed — treat as P1