Last Updated:
Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and more have a security risk that can exploited remotely to affect millions.
Microsoft Office users are being warned about a serious risk
Microsoft has been kept busy in 2026 so far with multiple security risks forcing its team to fix the issues before causing a serious damage. And now the Indian government has warned about a similar issue with Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint that are used by millions.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In is the source of the alert once again and in January 2026 it is notifying all the users who could become an easy target for the hackers if the issues are exploited. The new alert comes with a high severity rating which immediately makes it worth your attention.
Microsoft Office Security Issue
The security agency has shared the details around the Microsoft Office vulnerability that can have a serious impact on millions who rely on the software for their work and personal use.
“The reported vulnerabilities arise from improper handling of memory objects within Microsoft Office components, leading to memory corruption conditions such as use-after-free during document processing. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a target user to open or preview a specially crafted Office document.”
The fact that hackers can actually create a fake office file to target their victim puts the onus on the users to be careful about what they open or even share with others.
The company has even mentioned that the Office security issue can be exploited remotely and the hacker doesn’t need to be in close contact with the system, which is never ideal for innocent people.
The government alert says the whole Microsoft Office suite is at risk, which means using Office, Excel or PowerPoint has to be handled with these concerns in mind. So what can you do to protect your systems from the issues? Microsoft has already discovered the risks, and released the patches that will keep your machine safe. We suggest you go to Office on your Windows PC and install the latest available patches from the company.
Delhi, India, India
January 19, 2026, 08:25 IST
Read More
