CVE-2021-1716 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-1716, a critical Remote Code Execution vulnerability impacting Microsoft Word and multiple Microsoft Office products. Discover the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A critical Remote Code Execution vulnerability affecting Microsoft Word and various Microsoft Office products has been identified and disclosed by Microsoft.
Understanding CVE-2021-1716
This CVE represents a serious security flaw that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely on a target system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected system.
What is CVE-2021-1716?
The CVE-2021-1716 vulnerability is a Remote Code Execution flaw in Microsoft Word and several Microsoft Office products. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to run malicious code on the victim's machine.
The Impact of CVE-2021-1716
The impact of this vulnerability is severe, as successful exploitation could result in the attacker taking complete control of the affected system, compromising data, and potentially leading to further attacks.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-1716
This section will outline specific technical details related to the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system by exploiting a flaw present in Microsoft Word and certain Microsoft Office versions.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013 Service Pack 1 - Version 15.0.1
- Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 - Version 16.0.0
- Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2013 Service Pack 1 - Version 15.0.0
- Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 - Version 16.0.0
- Microsoft Office 2019 - Version 19.0.0
- Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac - Version 16.0.0
- Microsoft Office Online Server - Version 16.0.1
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise - Version 16.0.1
- Microsoft Word 2016 - Version 16.0.1
- Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 2 - Version 13.0.0.0
- Microsoft Office Web Apps 2010 Service Pack 2 - Version 13.0.0
- Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Service Pack 2 - Version 13.0.0.0
- Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 2 - Version 13.0.0.0
- Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1 - Version 15.0.1
- Microsoft Word 2013 Service Pack 1 - Version 15.0.1
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by enticing a user to open a specially crafted Word document containing malicious code, triggering the execution of the code on the affected system.
Mitigation and Prevention
To protect systems from the CVE-2021-1716 vulnerability, immediate action is required.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply security updates provided by Microsoft promptly.
- Exercise caution while opening Word documents from untrusted sources.
- Implement strong email security measures to prevent phishing attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and follow vendor security advisories.
- Implement security best practices like network segmentation and access controls.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all affected systems are patched with the latest security updates released by Microsoft to address the CVE-2021-1716 vulnerability.