Patch tracker / CVE reference / CVE-2026-20948

CVE-2026-20948

Updated July 21, 2026. Data refreshed on every build from MSRC, CISA KEV, and FIRST EPSS.

Patch this cycle
Not confirmed exploited yet, but the 30-day exploit probability is high (EPSS 29%).
Fixed by KB5002823 and 4 more (by build, listed below). Download from the Microsoft Update Catalog, or deploy via Windows Update, Intune, or WSUS.
Do this now: Patch in this maintenance window; do not let it slip to the next one.

Critical severity Microsoft vulnerability, CVSS 9.8. Fixed by 5 Microsoft security updates.

All about CVE-2026-20948: the Senserva AI read, whether it is exploited, the official patches, its change history, and the questions admins ask.

Senserva AI read on CVE-2026-20948Official patches for CVE-2026-20948Change historyAdmin questions

CVE-2026-20948 is a critical severity Microsoft vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8. Its EPSS score puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 29%. 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.

Critical

Risk summary

CVSS base
9.8
EPSS exploit probability
29%
Severity
Critical
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Senserva AI Opinion for CVE-2026-20948

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.

Full tracking and change history for CVE-2026-20948

Published
2026-01-13
Last revised
2026-01-13
Changes tracked
1

Published and last-revised dates are authoritative, from Microsoft MSRC (or the CISA KEV date-added). Senserva additionally records day-to-day changes from 2026-07-07, refreshed several times a day; the change count reflects that forward-only tracking.

Exploitation and severity

Not in the CISA KEV catalog. EPSS exploit probability 29%. CVSS 9.8 (Critical).

This CVE is among the lower half of tracked Microsoft CVEs by EPSS exploit probability.

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.

KB5002823KB5002825KB5002827KB5002828KB5002829

Affected products

Common questions about CVE-2026-20948

Is CVE-2026-20948 actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 29%.

What patch fixes CVE-2026-20948?

Microsoft fixed CVE-2026-20948 in KB5002823, KB5002825, KB5002827, KB5002828, KB5002829. Download from the Microsoft Update Catalog, or let Intune, Windows Update, or WSUS deliver it.

Which products are affected by CVE-2026-20948?

Microsoft Office 2016 (32-bit edition), Microsoft Office 2016 (64-bit edition), Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions, Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019, Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Edition.

Can I ask my own AI about CVE-2026-20948?

Yes. This page includes a free, ready-to-paste AI prompt containing CVE-2026-20948's key facts: severity, CVSS, EPSS exploit probability, CISA KEV status, and the fixing KB. Copy it into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot for a triage plan; the data is refreshed three times a day (5 AM, 12:30 PM, and 7 PM US Central).

Fixed by the same updates

If you are patching CVE-2026-20948, the same updates also fix these:

CVE-2026-20963CVE-2026-20943CVE-2026-20947CVE-2026-20951CVE-2026-20958CVE-2026-20959

Authoritative references

Official CVE record (cve.org)NVD detailMicrosoft MSRCFIRST.org EPSS

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Lexicon: the terms on this page
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. A unique ID for one publicly known vulnerability, such as CVE-2025-1234.
KB
Microsoft Knowledge Base article. The identifier for a specific Microsoft update.
KEV
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities. CVEs confirmed exploited in the wild. Fix these first.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System. A standardized Severity score from 0 to 10.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System. The probability a CVE will be exploited in the next 30 days.
MSRC
Microsoft Security Response Center. Microsoft's Patch Tuesday advisories and KB-to-CVE mapping.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database (NIST). Authoritative CVE metadata and CVSS scores.
Ransomware
The vulnerability is linked to known ransomware activity.
Reference: Microsoft CVE and vulnerability management, the full CVE-to-patch lookup ranked by real-world risk, and the Microsoft patching guide, how Intune, Windows Autopatch, Defender, and Azure Update Manager fit together.
Data notice: this page, the feeds, and the API are provided as is, for informational purposes only, without warranty of any kind. Senserva, LLC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of third-party data (MSRC, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS) and accepts no liability for actions taken based on it; verify against the authoritative vendor advisory before acting. Built daily with Senserva Trustworthy AI. All use of this data is subject to the Senserva EULA.