Block the Macromedia Flash Factory Object in Office 16.0
Setting the `Compatibility Flags` DWORD to `1024` (`0x00000400`) applies the Office COM kill bit to the COM object whose CLSID is `{D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}`.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Show registry keys (1)
HKLM\software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\COM Compatibility\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}\Compatibility Flags
Setting the Compatibility Flags DWORD to 1024 (0x00000400) applies the Office COM kill bit to the COM object whose CLSID is {D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}. Microsoft identifies this object as the Macromedia Flash Factory Object.
The kill bit prevents affected Office applications from activating this COM object. In Office versions containing the updated kill-bit behavior, the block covers not only objects embedded in or linked from documents but also other attempts to load the object in an Office process, including activation through add-ins.
Notes
Security
Blocking the object prevents Office from loading this obsolete Flash COM component and executing its code inside an Office process. This removes a potential attack path involving documents, add-ins, or other components that attempt to instantiate the object.
The value blocks only the specified CLSID in Office. It does not disable all ActiveX controls or COM objects, and it does not impose a system-wide Flash block on unrelated applications.
Possible side effects
Office documents, templates, macros, or add-ins that depend on the Macromedia Flash Factory Object can no longer use the content or functionality it supplies. Depending on the Office application and the way the object is invoked, Flash content may remain blank, stop responding, or produce an error.
Notes
The WOW6432Node location applies to 32-bit Office running on 64-bit Windows. Microsoft documents the corresponding path without WOW6432Node for 64-bit Office on 64-bit Windows and for 32-bit Office on 32-bit Windows.
An additional ActivationFilterOverride DWORD set to 1 beneath the same CLSID would narrow the block to linking and embedding scenarios. Without that exception, the updated Office COM kill-bit functionality blocks activation of the object more broadly within Office processes.
Microsoft also lists this CLSID among the controls blocked from activation by default. On an appropriately updated Office installation, explicitly setting the kill bit may therefore confirm an existing block without causing a further visible behavior change.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Support: Security Settings for COM objects in Office