Microsoft is investigating a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Office Web Components. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. When using Internet Explorer, code execution is remote and may not require any user intervention.  Users may prevent the Microsoft Office Web Components from running in Internet Explorer by using the solution found in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 973472.  Microsoft is currently working to develop a security update for all affected software.

If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker using this exploit could take complete control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.  The IT Security and Policy Office recommends that users should not have administrative access to his or her computer unless absolutely necessary.