CVE-2026-70312 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Improper input validation in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in Microsoft Office PowerPoint's input validation mechanisms that enables unauthorized attackers to achieve local information disclosure. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate user-provided input data during processing of presentation files, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-20, which encompasses improper input validation issues that can lead to various security consequences including information disclosure and privilege escalation. The vulnerability typically manifests when PowerPoint processes malformed or untrusted presentation files containing crafted malicious content that bypasses normal validation checks.
The technical implementation of this weakness involves PowerPoint's handling of specific file formats such as pptx, ppsx, or potx presentations where attacker-controlled data can trigger unexpected behavior in the application's parsing routines. When the software encounters improperly validated input elements within these files, it may inadvertently expose internal system information or memory contents to unauthorized parties. This occurs because the validation process does not adequately sanitize or verify the integrity of input parameters before processing them, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's normal execution flow.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks for organizations relying on Microsoft Office suites, particularly in environments where users frequently open presentations from untrusted sources. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted presentation files that trigger the information disclosure behavior when opened by vulnerable versions of PowerPoint. The local nature of the disclosure means that successful exploitation typically requires physical access to the target system or social engineering to convince users to open malicious files, but once triggered, the vulnerability can expose sensitive data including file paths, memory contents, or system information that could aid further attacks.
The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the attack chain defined by MITRE ATT&CK framework. Specifically, this vulnerability aligns with techniques categorized under initial access and privilege escalation phases where attackers establish presence on target systems. Security professionals should consider this weakness in relation to broader attack patterns involving document-based exploits and fileless malware delivery methods that leverage application vulnerabilities for persistent access. Organizations must implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this issue promptly.
Mitigation strategies focus primarily on maintaining current Microsoft Office installations with the latest security updates from Microsoft, as these patches typically contain fixes for known input validation weaknesses. Additionally, implementing strict email filtering policies and user education programs can help prevent exploitation through social engineering attacks that deliver malicious presentation files. Network segmentation and access controls should also be enforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with file processing activities that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.