CVE-2009-0556
HighExploitedPublic exploitMicrosoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption,…
Published Apr 3, 2009 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2009-0556 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Office Powerpoint (Microsoft), Powerpoint (Microsoft).
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 3, 2009. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 67% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
8.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
67%
Higher than 99.3% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2009-0556 brief as a PDF
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Description
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009 by Exploit:Win32/Apptom.gen, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Jan 7, 2026 | Jan 28, 2026 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Apr 3, 2009 | Jan 28, 2026 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Apr 3, 2009 | Jan 28, 2026 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Jan 7, 2026 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected Products
4 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Office PowerpointMicrosoft | 2004 | n/a |
| PowerpointMicrosoft | 2000-sp3, 2002-sp3, 2003-sp3 | n/a |
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Apr 3, 2009
Added to Industry KEV feed
Apr 3, 2009
Added to CIRCL KEV
Apr 3, 2009
Added to CISA KEV
Jan 7, 2026
Added to ENISA EUVD
Jan 7, 2026
Last updated
Apr 22, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
References
- advisoryhttp://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploits-using-powerpoint-files.aspx
- advisoryhttp://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/04/02/microsoft-security-advisory-969136.aspx
- advisoryhttp://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/04/02/investigating-the-new-powerpoint-issue.aspx
- advisoryMS09-017
- advisory34572
FAQ
Common Questions.
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009…
Affected: Office Powerpoint (Microsoft) versions 2004; Powerpoint (Microsoft) versions 2000-sp3, 2002-sp3, 2003-sp3. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 3, 2009.
Yes. It was added on Jan 7, 2026 with a federal remediation due date of Jan 28, 2026.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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