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Microsoft OneNote EUVDEUVD-2026-100460

| CVE-2026-97781 HIGH
Command Injection (CWE-77)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-g8p2-qfh9-mhqc
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Deliver crafted OneNote file via phishing
  2. Delivery
    Victim opens document in OneNote
  3. Exploit
    Improper neutralization triggers command injection
  4. Execution
    Execute arbitrary code in user context
  5. Impact
    Full compromise of user data and system

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Command injection prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a victim to open an attacker-crafted OneNote document in Microsoft Office OneNote (UI:R); it cannot fire without that user interaction, which is the primary limiting factor. No authentication is required of the attacker (PR:N), and no special victim-side configuration is implied by the description - the flaw is in OneNote's handling/neutralization of special elements in content, so default installations that open the malicious file are affected. The practical constraint is social-engineering success in getting the target to open the file rather than any non-default feature or elevated privilege.

Impact

This is a genuine high-priority issue, not a high-CVSS-but-low-risk inflation. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 8.8) describes network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact - the only meaningful brake is the required user interaction (UI:R), typical of a client-side Office attack where a victim must open a crafted OneNote document. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, POC reference, or SSVC decision data was provided, so exploitation-likelihood signals are entirely absent and cannot be used to raise or lower the assessment: exploitation status is therefore 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' There is a mild tension worth verifying: command injection (CWE-77) in a document-rendering client is plausibly network-delivered via a malicious file but requires the user to open it, which the UI:R flag correctly captures - the AV:N rating reflects delivery over a network (e.g. email/web link) rather than direct network service exposure, so this is a phishing-style vector, not a wormable server flaw. Priority should be high for patching but the absence of any exploitation telemetry means it is not yet confirmed as actively targeted.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious OneNote document (or notebook content) that embeds a command-injection payload and delivers it to a victim via email or a web link. When the victim opens the file in Microsoft Office OneNote, the special elements are improperly neutralized and attacker-chosen commands execute in the user's context. No public exploit code was identified in the provided data.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Command injection in Microsoft OneNote allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute code when a victim opens a specially crafted OneNote document. The issue is rated CVSS 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and affects Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 16.0.1 per EUVD, with user interaction being the primary exploitation barrier. No public exploit was identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has published an advisory and update path via the MSRC update guide.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor update for CVE-2026-97781 using Microsoft's MSRC update guide (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-97781) and the Office security releases page (https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases); patch availability is confirmed per vendor advisory, but no exact fixed version string was provided. Until the update is deployed, reduce exposure by blocking or quarantining OneNote (.one) attachments and downloads from untrusted sources, restricting OneNote use where it is not business-critical, and warning users not to open unexpected OneNote documents, since exploitation requires the victim to open the crafted file. These controls can interrupt legitimate OneNote document sharing and should be scoped carefully.

Affected VersionsENISA

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

CWE-77 covers improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, meaning OneNote fails to sanitize crafted content before it reaches a command-execution context. The CVSS vector confirms network exploitability with no privileges required but requires user interaction, so the attack surface is a malicious OneNote file opened by the victim rather than a remotely triggerable service. EUVD ties affected versions to Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 16.0.1 and directs administrators to Microsoft's Office security release guidance; no CPE, EPSS, KEV, or POC data was supplied. The defect is best understood as a document-based remote code execution issue in Microsoft Office OneNote's handling of embedded or command-like elements.

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Crafted document delivered over a network (AV:N) with no attacker privileges (PR:N) but requiring the victim to open it (UI:R), yielding full C/I/A impact in the user context.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Microsoft Office OneNote allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity remote code execution flaw in Microsoft OneNote, part of Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (16.0.1), allows an attacker to run arbitrary code on a victim's workstation simply by getting them to open a crafted notebook file. Because OneNote documents are routinely exchanged inside and outside the organization and the attack requires no credentials, any employee who opens a malicious file can hand an adversary full control of their endpoint and, by extension, access to corporate data and connected systems. With no vendor-released patch identified at this time, leadership should treat this as an active risk-management issue requiring immediate interim controls rather than a routine maintenance item.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: block or quarantine .one attachments at the email and web gateways; block OneNote from spawning child processes (cmd.exe, powershell.exe, mshta.exe, wscript.exe) via EDR/AppLocker/WDAC rules; disable or restrict embedded object and ActiveX execution in OneNote via Group Policy or Microsoft 365 Apps configuration; alert on OneNote initiating outbound network connections; apply Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise updates as soon as the MSRC update guide identifies a fixed build; reinforce user reporting of unsolicited OneNote files.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.8%
Top 45% exploitable
Prevalence
High
OneNote ships with Microsoft 365/Office, widely deployed across enterprises
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.8%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.

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