CVE-2026-88178: Use after free in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2026-88178 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting 365 apps, microsoft 365, office 2021. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Use after free in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Why this priority

Critical severity
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.0% (top 38%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	2026-10-13
Last modified	2026-10-15

Publisher (CNA): Microsoft Corporation · Vendor: microsoft

Last updated 2026-10-15 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-10-13 19:21 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-15 21:19 UTCUpdated Record last modified

microsoft 365 apps MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy 365-apps || rpm -q 365-apps || 365-apps --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

microsoft microsoft 365 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy microsoft-365 || rpm -q microsoft-365 || microsoft-365 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

microsoft office 2021 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy office-2021 || rpm -q office-2021 || office-2021 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

microsoft office 2021 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy office-2021 || rpm -q office-2021 || office-2021 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

microsoft office 2024 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy office-2024 || rpm -q office-2024 || office-2024 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

microsoft office 2024 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy office-2024 || rpm -q office-2024 || office-2024 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · gcl · FIXED · 2.7.1-12.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-ff383a759b · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-ff383a759b

Fedora ELN · mozjs140 · FIXED · 140.13.0-5.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-f7ed0026e0 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-f7ed0026e0

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-88178?

365 apps: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; microsoft 365: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; office 2021: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-88178 being exploited?

CVE-2026-88178 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-88178 affect?

CVE-2026-88178 affects 365 apps, microsoft 365, office 2021. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Use after free in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

How urgent is CVE-2026-88178?

Priority 63/100. Critical severity; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Microsoft Office vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-23657 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE Use after free in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
CVE-2026-32190 HIGH 8.4 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE Use after free in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
CVE-2026-32189 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE Use after free in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
CVE-2026-32188 HIGH 7.1 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.
CVE-2026-32200 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE Use after free in Microsoft Office PowerPoint allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.

References

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