CVE-2023-21716

CRITICAL EXPLOITED IN THE WILD

Microsoft Word - Remote Code Execution via Integer Overflow

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2023-21716 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV, InTheWild.io). EIP tracks 13 public exploits from researchers including gyaansastra, Xnuvers007, JMousqueton.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a detailed technical writeup of CVE-2023-21716, a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's RTF parser. The analysis includes assembly-level details, debugger output, and an explanation of how excessive font table entries lead to out-of-bounds memory writes.

Description

Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Exploits (13)

nomisec WRITEUP 59 stars
by gyaansastra · client-side
https://github.com/gyaansastra/CVE-2023-21716

This repository contains a detailed technical writeup of CVE-2023-21716, a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's RTF parser. The analysis includes assembly-level details, debugger output, and an explanation of how excessive font table entries lead to out-of-bounds memory writes.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Microsoft Word (Microsoft Office)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open a malicious RTF document
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 46 stars
by Xnuvers007 · client-side
https://github.com/Xnuvers007/CVE-2023-21716

This PoC exploits CVE-2023-21716, a vulnerability in Microsoft Word that causes a crash when processing a malformed RTF file with an excessive number of font table entries. The exploit generates an RTF file with 32761 font entries, triggering a denial-of-service condition.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word (Windows 10)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Python 3.11 · Target system running Microsoft Word on Windows 10
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 9 stars
by JMousqueton · client-side
https://github.com/JMousqueton/CVE-2023-21716

This PoC generates a malicious RTF file that exploits a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's font table handling (CVE-2023-21716). The exploit triggers remote code execution when the victim opens the file.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Office (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 365)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open the malicious RTF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 6 stars
by hv0l · client-side
https://github.com/hv0l/CVE-2023-21716_exploit

This exploit generates a malicious RTF file leveraging CVE-2023-21716, a vulnerability in Microsoft Word, and sends it via email. The RTF file contains a large number of font table entries to trigger the vulnerability.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word (versions affected by CVE-2023-21716)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: SMTP server access · Target email address · Vulnerable Microsoft Word installation
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 5 stars
by RonF98 · client-side
https://github.com/RonF98/CVE-2023-21716-POC

This repository contains a Python script to generate a malicious RTF file exploiting CVE-2023-21716, a heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Word's handling of the \fonttbl control word. The PoC triggers a crash by exceeding the font limit (32760), leading to potential remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word (multiple versions, including Office 2019, 2016, 2013, and Microsoft 365)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Vulnerable version of Microsoft Word · Ability to deliver the malicious RTF file to the target (e.g., via email)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP 4 stars
by FeatherStark · client-side
https://github.com/FeatherStark/CVE-2023-21716

This repository contains a detailed technical writeup for CVE-2023-21716, a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's RTF parser. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of font table entries, leading to out-of-bounds memory writes and potential remote code execution.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Microsoft Word (Microsoft Office)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open a malicious RTF document
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 3 stars
by MojithaR · poc
https://github.com/MojithaR/CVE-2023-21716-EXPLOIT.py

This exploit generates a malformed RTF file with an excessive number of font table entries (32761) to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition in vulnerable Microsoft Office applications. The PoC leverages a heap-based buffer overflow in the RTF parser, causing a crash or potential code execution under specific conditions.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Office (versions affected by CVE-2023-21716)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Vulnerable version of Microsoft Office · Ability to deliver the malicious RTF file to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by REGGYRAIDER · dos
https://github.com/REGGYRAIDER/CVE-2023-21716

The repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2023-21716, which leverages a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's RTF parser by embedding an abnormally large \fonttbl directive (32768+ font definitions). The exploit generates a malicious RTF file that triggers the vulnerability and executes embedded shellcode.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word 2013 / 2016 / 2019 / 2021 (unpatched)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Unpatched Microsoft Word installation · Victim to open the malicious RTF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Jun 08, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP
by Caliburn9 · poc
https://github.com/Caliburn9/CVE-2023-21716-Analysis-ICT287

This repository provides a detailed technical analysis of CVE-2023-21716, a heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Word's RTF parser, including root cause analysis, impact assessment, and reproduction steps. It references an external exploit but does not contain functional exploit code itself.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word 2016
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Malicious RTF file · Victim interaction (opening the file)
devstral-2 · analyzed May 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by muumthf · poc
https://github.com/muumthf/CVE-2023-21716

This Python script generates a malicious RTF file exploiting CVE-2023-21716 by creating an excessive number of font table entries (32761) to trigger a denial-of-service condition in Microsoft Office.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Office (versions affected by CVE-2023-21716)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Python environment to generate the RTF file · Target system with vulnerable Microsoft Office installation
devstral-2 · analyzed Mar 22, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by P4x1s · poc
https://github.com/P4x1s/CVE-2023-21716-POC

This PoC exploits a heap corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word's RTF parser by generating an RTF file with an excessive number of font entries, leading to a potential remote code execution (RCE). The script creates a malformed RTF file designed to trigger the vulnerability when opened in a vulnerable version of Microsoft Word.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Microsoft Word (versions affected by CVE-2023-21716)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Vulnerable version of Microsoft Word · User interaction to open the malformed RTF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
patchapalooza WORKING POC
by maldev866 · local
https://github.com/maldev866/WordExp_CVE_2023_21716

This PoC generates a maliciously crafted RTF file that exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft Word (CVE-2023-21716) by creating an excessively large font table, likely triggering a denial-of-service or memory corruption condition. The exploit is minimal but functional, demonstrating the vulnerability by attempting to crash the target application.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Word (versions affected by CVE-2023-21716)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must open the malicious RTF file in a vulnerable version of Microsoft Word
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →

References (1)

Core 1
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.9142
EPSS Percentile 99.7%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable yes
Technical Impact total

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2024-03-21
InTheWild.io 2023-03-27
CWE
CWE-190
Status published
Products (10)
microsoft/office 2019
microsoft/office_long_term_servicing_channel 2021
microsoft/office_online_server 2016
microsoft/office_web_apps 2013 sp1
microsoft/sharepoint_enterprise_server 2013 sp1
microsoft/sharepoint_enterprise_server 2016
microsoft/sharepoint_foundation 2013 sp1
microsoft/sharepoint_server (2 CPE variants)
microsoft/sharepoint_server 2019
microsoft/word 2013 sp1 (2 CPE variants)
Published Feb 14, 2023
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026