How severe is CVE-2026-20943?

CVE-2026-20943 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2026-20943 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (46th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-20943?

CVE-2026-20943 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-20943?

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.

Does CVE-2026-20943 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-20943 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-2140.

When was CVE-2026-20943 published?

CVE-2026-20943 was published on 2026-01-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2026-20943

CVE-2026-20943 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Office with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-426.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.0)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (46th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-2140
Weakness: CWE-426
Affected product: Microsoft Office
Published: 2026-01-13
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Untrusted search path in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-20943?: Untrusted search path in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
How severe is CVE-2026-20943?: CVE-2026-20943 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-20943 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (46th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-20943?: CVE-2026-20943 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20943?: 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.
Does CVE-2026-20943 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2026-20943 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-2140.
When was CVE-2026-20943 published?: CVE-2026-20943 was published on 2026-01-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20943

Affected products (6)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_deployment_tool:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:*:*:*:*:subscription:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2016:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sharepoint_server:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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