---
id: "CVE-2023-21715"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-21715"]
title: "microsoft 365 apps: Microsoft Publisher Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.3
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Office", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft 365 apps", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "microsoft-office", "package", "windows"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2023-02-14T00:00:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-21715", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21715", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# microsoft 365 apps: Microsoft Publisher Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Microsoft Office Publisher has a security feature bypass flaw that lets a local, authenticated user get around protections on the machine. CISA lists it as actively exploited in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Office affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft 365 apps affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft Office security updates per vendor instructions; specific fixed build numbers are not in the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-21715
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21715

## From the sources

Microsoft Office Publisher contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that allows for a local, authenticated attack on a targeted system.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_