CVE-2026-69767 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Use after free in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical security flaw within the Microsoft Office PowerPoint application, specifically involving a use-after-free condition that can be exploited by an unauthorized attacker to achieve remote code execution over a network. This type of vulnerability arises from improper memory management practices where software continues to reference a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed or deallocated. In the context of PowerPoint, this flaw is typically triggered when processing specially crafted files or content that manipulates how objects are allocated and released in memory during rendering or parsing operations. When an attacker crafts malicious input designed to exploit this race condition or logic error, they can cause the application to access invalid memory addresses, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities represent a significant risk because they allow attackers to corrupt heap structures or overwrite function pointers within the process address space. By carefully controlling the data written into the freed memory region before it is reallocated for another purpose, an attacker can redirect program execution flow to their own shellcode. This mechanism bypasses many standard security mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), especially if combined with additional exploitation techniques like heap spraying or information disclosure leaks that help locate specific memory addresses. The ability to execute code over a network implies that the attack vector is likely remote, meaning an attacker does not need physical access to the target machine but can instead deliver malicious payloads through email attachments, shared documents, or web-based presentations hosted on compromised servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of systems running affected versions of Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over the vulnerable system, enabling them to install programs, view, change, or delete data, and create new accounts with full user rights. In enterprise environments where documents are frequently shared across networks via email clients like Outlook or collaboration platforms such as SharePoint, this vulnerability can facilitate widespread lateral movement if a single endpoint is compromised. Attackers may use the initial foothold to pivot to other systems within the internal network, exfiltrate sensitive intellectual property, or deploy additional malware such as ransomware or botnets for further malicious activities.
This flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which defines Use After Free errors where a pointer is used after its memory has been freed. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates techniques associated with Initial Access and Execution, particularly those involving spearphishing attachments or drive-by compromises if delivered via web-based interfaces. The exploitation chain typically involves tricking a user into opening a malicious file, which triggers the parsing engine to process the malformed data structure that exploits the memory management bug. To mitigate these risks, organizations must ensure that all Microsoft Office components are updated with the latest security patches released by Microsoft. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting can prevent unauthorized scripts from running after exploitation, while restricting macro execution and enabling Protected View for documents received from untrusted sources adds critical layers of defense against such attacks.