# CVE-2023-36761: Microsoft Word Information Disclosure

> An attacker can exploit a vulnerability in Microsoft Word to disclose sensitive information to unauthorized users.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 12 Sep 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 30 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4w9h-xcp4-6v33

## What is CVE-2023-36761?

CVE-2023-36761 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps, published on 12 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Microsoft Word Information Disclosure Vulnerability

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-36761?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Long Term Servicing Channel, Microsoft Word.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-36761?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-36761 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 Oct 2023.

## Is CVE-2023-36761 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-36761 in the wild since at least 12 Sep 2023.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft 365 Apps

- [CVE-2024-21413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21413/): Microsoft Outlook Improper Input Validation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-23397](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23397/): Microsoft Office Outlook Privilege Escalation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-38189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38189/): Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-35311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35311/): Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-21514](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-21514/): Microsoft Office Word Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-36761 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-36761 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps, published on 12 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-36761 in the wild since at least 12 Sep 2023.

Affected product: Microsoft 365 Apps. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36761/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36761/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-36761
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36761
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36761

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36761/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.