CVE-2021-27056 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Vulnerability was published on March 11, 2021, impacting various Microsoft products including Microsoft Office 2019, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, and older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint.

Understanding CVE-2021-27056

This CVE is classified as a Remote Code Execution vulnerability with a CVSS base score of 7.8, indicating a high severity level.

What is CVE-2021-27056?

The CVE-2021-27056 is a Remote Code Execution vulnerability affecting Microsoft's PowerPoint software, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-27056

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in a complete compromise of the vulnerable system, leading to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential system damage.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-27056

This section provides more detailed insights into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malicious PowerPoint file and convince the victim to open it, leading to the execution of arbitrary code on the target system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Office 2019 (Version 19.0.0)
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Version 16.0.1)
Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 Service Pack 1 (Version 14.0.0)
Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 (Version 16.0.0)
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Service Pack 2 (Version 13.0.0.0)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted PowerPoint file via email or other means to the victim, triggering the code execution when the file is opened.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect your systems from CVE-2021-27056, immediate steps should be taken, and long-term security practices should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Microsoft Office to the latest security patches.
Educate users on the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and security patches.
Implement email and web filtering for malicious content detection.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Ensure that your systems are up to date with the latest patches and security fixes.