If you’re using Microsoft Office in your daily operations, there’s an important task you need to ensure happens. Recently, Microsoft released an emergency patch for a critical zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Office. A “zero-day” flaw means cyber attackers have already found it and are exploiting it right now, before developers could issue a fix. This one’s tracked as CVE-2024-38021, and if exploited, it could allow attackers to execute malicious code on your device simply by tricking you into opening a dodgy Office file like a Word document or Excel spreadsheet.
It affects almost all current Office versions, including Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 Apps. No user interaction beyond opening a file is needed! Meaning one wrong click could put your entire system at risk. Attackers are actively weaponising this and targeting unprepared businesses.
We know updating software feels like yet another chore, but, ignoring this patch is like leaving your door unlocked. These exploits aren’t theoretical and unfortunately people are falling victim to them. Security isn’t glamorous, or the most fun, but then neither is downtime or a data breach. Patch promptly, stay vigilant and remember: proactive care is always cheaper than damage control. If you’re unsure whether you’re covered, get in touch and have our UK based team on your side!