CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-59265NVD status: Deferred

Apache OpenOffice: Untrusted Search Path

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-59265 is a high-severity untrusted search path vulnerability in Apache OpenOffice from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists versions 95923fd437e06edd38a4f0e139a27c755a6f3ba6, 181421139242694b309751fb666406eddc203c50 as the first without the flaw, so updating Apache OpenOffice to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.59% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Apache OpenOffice to 95923fd437e06edd38a4f0e139a27c755a6f3ba6 or 181421139242694b309751fb666406eddc203c50, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
  3. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ApacheApache OpenOffice4.1.16 and earlier; before 95923fd437e06edd38a4f0e139a27c755a6f3ba6; before 181421139242694b309751fb666406eddc203c5095923fd437e06edd38a4f0e139a27c755a6f3ba6, 181421139242694b309751fb666406eddc203c50

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

A code execution issue in the Java integration in Apache OpenOffice v4.1.16 and earlier allows a crafted untrusted document to trigger executing arbitrary (even remote) code when opened by the user. This issue is expected to be fixed in version 4.1.17, which is in the release candidate phase. Until then, users can mitigate this issue by disabling Java runtime integration in the Preferences dialog. This prevents the attack. If this is not possible, or as an extra precaution, you can avoid opening open untrusted files entirely. Once 4.1.17 is released, upgrade to that version to fix the issue.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Untrusted Search Path

The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
  • When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
  • Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.

More Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities (CWE-426)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Apache OpenOffice

All Apache OpenOffice vulnerabilities

Recent Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities

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