CVE-2021-38646
Detail
Description
Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Metrics
CVSS Version 4.0
CVSS Version 3.x
CVSS Version 2.0
NVD enrichment efforts reference publicly available information to associate
vector strings. CVSS information contributed by other sources is also
displayed.
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
NVD assessment
not yet provided.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
CNA: Microsoft Corporation
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
Vector:
(AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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This CVE is in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Reference
CISA's BOD 22-01 and Known
Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog for further guidance and requirements.
Vulnerability Name
Date Added
Due Date
Required Action
Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
03/28/2022
04/18/2022
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Weakness Enumeration
CWE-ID
CWE Name
Source
NVD-CWE-noinfo
Insufficient Information
NIST
Change History
16 change records found show changes
Modified Analysis by NIST
8/10/2026 3:59:12 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CPE Configuration
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x64:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2016:-:*:*:*:-:*:x86:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Added
Reference Type
Microsoft Corporation: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38646 Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory
CVE Modified by Microsoft Corporation
8/10/2026 12:18:09 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38646
Removed
Reference
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-38646
Removed
Reference Type
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-38646 Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory
Changed
Affected
[{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2019","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"19.0.0","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.1","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2016","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.0","lessThan":"5215.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:x86:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:x64:*"],"platforms":["ARM64-based Systems","32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"15.0.0","lessThan":"5381.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]}]
[{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise","platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.1","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1","platforms":["32-bit Systems","ARM64-based Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"15.0.0","lessThan":"5381.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2016","platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.0","lessThan":"5215.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2019","platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"19.0.0","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]}]
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
6/17/2026 12:02:30 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
SSVC
{"timestamp":"2025-02-04T18:11:37.868401Z","id":"CVE-2021-38646","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"no"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","version":"2.0.3"}
CVE Modified by Microsoft Corporation
6/17/2026 12:02:30 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Affected
[{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2019","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"19.0.0","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.1","lessThan":"https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2016","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*"],"platforms":["32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"16.0.0","lessThan":"5215.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]},{"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1","cpes":["cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:x86:*","cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:x64:*"],"platforms":["ARM64-based Systems","32-bit Systems","x64-based Systems"],"versions":[{"version":"15.0.0","lessThan":"5381.1000","versionType":"custom","status":"affected"}]}]
Modified Analysis by NIST
10/30/2025 3:14:00 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference Type
CISA-ADP: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-38646 Types: US Government Resource
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
10/21/2025 8:17:42 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-38646
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
10/21/2025 4:18:44 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Removed
Reference
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-38646
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
10/21/2025 3:19:19 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-38646
Modified Analysis by NIST
3/07/2025 4:58:01 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
CVE Modified by CVE
11/21/2024 1:17:48 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-38646
Modified Analysis by NIST
7/16/2024 1:50:15 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CPE Configuration
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:-:*:-:*:-:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE Modified by Microsoft Corporation
5/14/2024 5:21:42 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
CVE Modified by Microsoft Corporation
12/28/2023 3:16:02 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
CVSS V3.1
Microsoft Corporation AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE Remap by NIST
8/08/2023 10:21:49 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CWE
CWE-119
CWE-787
NVD-CWE-noinfo
CWE Remap by NIST
7/12/2022 1:42:04 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo
CWE-119
CWE-787
Initial Analysis by NIST
9/24/2021 2:54:22 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
CVSS V3.1
NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Added
CVSS V2
NIST (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)
Added
CWE
NIST NVD-CWE-noinfo
Added
CPE Configuration
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:-:*:-:*:-:*
*cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Changed
Reference Type
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-38646 No Types Assigned
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-38646 Patch, Vendor Advisory
Added
CVSS V2 Metadata
Victim must voluntarily interact with attack mechanism
Quick Info
CVE Dictionary Entry: CVE-2021-38646 NVD
Published Date: 09/15/2021 NVD
Last Modified: 08/10/2026
Source: Microsoft Corporation
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