How severe is CVE-2016-7291?

CVE-2016-7291 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-7291 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 23% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-7291?

CVE-2016-7291 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-7291?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-7291 published?

CVE-2016-7291 was published on 2016-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-7291

CVE-2016-7291 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Office with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 23% places it in the 97th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.1)
CVSS v2: 5.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 23% (97th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-125
Affected product: Microsoft Office
Published: 2016-12-20
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Microsoft Word 2007 SP3, Office 2010 SP2, Word 2010 SP2, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Word for Mac 2011, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2010 SP2, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP2 allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Office Information Disclosure Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-7290.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-7291?: Microsoft Word 2007 SP3, Office 2010 SP2, Word 2010 SP2, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Word for Mac 2011, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2010 SP2, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP2 allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Office Information Disclosure Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-7290.
How severe is CVE-2016-7291?: CVE-2016-7291 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-7291 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 23% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-7291?: CVE-2016-7291 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-7291?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-7291 published?: CVE-2016-7291 was published on 2016-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (8)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_compatibility_pack:-:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_web_apps:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2007:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word_automation_services:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:word_for_mac:2011:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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