Improper access control in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and Microsoft Office LTSC - CVE-2026-20949

 

Improper access control in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and Microsoft Office LTSC - CVE-2026-20949

Published: January 13, 2026


Vulnerability identifier: #VU121289
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4: 8.4 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-20949
CWE-ID: CWE-284
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability: No public exploit available

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to otherwise restricted functionality.

The vulnerability exists due to improper access restrictions in Microsoft Excel. A remote attacker can trick a victim to open the malicious workbook, enable editing and then click the attacker‑supplied Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) button to bypass a security feature.


Affected software

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
Microsoft Office LTSC

How to mitigate CVE-2026-20949

Install updates from vendor's website.


External References

Related Security Bulletins