^{CVE-2023-21716:}Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2023-21716) allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Word.

Overview

This vulnerability affects Microsoft Word and poses a significant security risk to organizations and individuals using affected versions of the software. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious Word documents that, when opened by a victim, can execute arbitrary code on their system without requiring additional user interaction beyond opening the document. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as Word documents are commonly exchanged in business environments and may appear legitimate to users. The vulnerability received a high severity rating due to its potential impact and exploitation method. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could install programs, view, change, or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights depending on the privileges of the compromised user account.

Remediation

To protect against this vulnerability, users and administrators should:

1. Apply the security updates provided by Microsoft as soon as possible
2. Install the latest Microsoft Office security updates through Windows Update
3. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing the following temporary mitigations:
   • Use Microsoft Office in Protected View mode when opening documents from untrusted sources
   • Configure Microsoft Office to block the opening of documents from the internet
   • Implement application control policies to restrict Microsoft Word from creating child processes
   • Educate users about the risks of opening documents from unknown or untrusted sources
4. Monitor systems for suspicious activity related to Microsoft Word processes
5. Consider using Microsoft Defender or other security solutions that can detect exploitation attempts

References

1. Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21716
2. Microsoft Security Update Guide for detailed patch information
3. Microsoft's guidance on configuring Protected View in Office applications
4. NIST National Vulnerability Database: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21716