Patch tracker / CVE reference / CVE-2026-20948
CVE-2026-20948
CVE-2026-20948 is a high severity Microsoft vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8. Its EPSS score puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 32%. Microsoft has shipped the fix: deploy one of the 5 updates below from the Microsoft Update Catalog, and see where this CVE sits against the rest on the patch tracker.
Risk summary
Not in the CISA KEV catalog. EPSS exploit probability 32%. CVSS 7.8 (High).
This CVE is among the lower half of tracked Microsoft CVEs by EPSS exploit probability.
An EPSS score of 31 percent puts this Word remote code execution flaw far above the typical Office bug, and the Critical CVSS 9.8 rating matches. Because SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 and SharePoint Server 2019 are on the affected list, a crafted document threatens the servers that render files, not just the Office 2019 desktops that open them. It is not in the CISA KEV catalog yet, but the exploitation forecast says treat it as if it soon will be.
Do this: Patch SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 first, then push the Office 2019 update to desktops in the same cycle.
AI-generated from public data, 2026-07-07. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting.
Senserva AI Opinion and rich prompt for CVE-2026-20948
Copy this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot. The facts are included, sourced from this page.
Official patch(es) for CVE-2026-20948
Elevated priority: high severity or a meaningful exploitation probability, sooner if an affected product is internet-facing. In Intune or Defender, confirm whether the fixing updates KB5002823, KB5002825, KB5002827, KB5002828, KB5002829 are installed across the affected products. Senserva does this automatically across your tenant and flags every missing patch.
Apply the Microsoft security updates below to fix CVE-2026-20948. Each KB page carries the Microsoft Update Catalog download, Microsoft's known issues for the update, a copy-paste PowerShell check for whether it is installed, and the Senserva AI read.
Scope and sources
- Affected products
- Fixed by the same updates
- Authoritative references
Want every Microsoft CVE and the patches that fix it, ranked by real-world risk? See the Microsoft Patch Tracker.