--- title: "CVE-2009-0556: Improper Control of Generation of Code | CubePath" description: "Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2009-0556 --- # CVE-2009-0556: Improper Control of Generation of Code | CubePath ## 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." Official description from the CVE record, published by microsoft. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-0556) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 High 8.8 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. | | Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. | | Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. | | User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.67312 (67.3% probability) Percentile 99.3% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Microsoft Office PowerPoint Code Injection Vulnerability Added to the catalog Jan 7, 2026 Federal due date Jan 28, 2026 ### CISA assessment as of Jan 7, 2026 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable no Technical impact total ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-94](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/94.html) Improper Control of Generation of Code ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-019](http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-019) - [blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploit…](http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploits-using-powerpoint-files.aspx) - [ADV-2009-1290](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1290) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [53182](http://osvdb.org/53182) (osvdb.org) vdb-entry - [MS09-017](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-017) (docs.microsoft.com) vendor-advisory - [powerpoint-unspecified-code-execution(49632)](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49632) (exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com) vdb-entry - [34351](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34351) (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry - [ADV-2009-0915](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0915) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/04/02/microsoft-securit…](http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/04/02/microsoft-security-advisory-969136.aspx) - [blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/04/02/investigating-the-…](http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/04/02/investigating-the-new-powerpoint-issue.aspx) - [oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6279](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6279) (oval.cisecurity.org) vdb-entry signature - [34572](http://secunia.com/advisories/34572) (secunia.com) third-party-advisory - [1021967](http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021967) (securitytracker.com) vdb-entry - [TA09-132A](http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-132A.html) (us-cert.gov) third-party-advisory - [microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/969136.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/969136.mspx) - [VU#627331](http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/627331) (kb.cert.org) third-party-advisory - [20090512 ZDI-09-019: Microsoft Office PowerPoint OutlineTextRefAtom Parsing Memory Corruption Vulnerability](http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/503453/100/0/threaded) (securityfocus.com) mailing-list - [oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6204](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6204) (oval.cisecurity.org) vdb-entry signature ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Feb 12, 2009 2. Record published Apr 3, 2009 3. Added to CISA KEV Jan 7, 2026 4. Record last updated Jan 8, 2026 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:01 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)