Office COM kill bit for Macromedia Flash Factory Object
The `Compatibility Flags` value is a `DWORD`.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Show registry keys (1)
HKLM\software\microsoft\Office\Common\COM Compatibility\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}\Compatibility Flags
The Compatibility Flags value is a DWORD. Setting its data to 1024 (hexadecimal 0x00000400) applies the Office COM kill bit to CLSID {D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}, which Microsoft identifies as Macromedia Flash Factory Object.
The kill bit prevents supported Microsoft Office applications from activating this COM object. Its scope includes ActiveX or OLE objects embedded in or linked from Office documents.
Notes
Additional effects
With the expanded kill-bit behavior described in Microsoft KB3178703, Office also blocks other attempts to activate the object in-process, including activation through an add-in. A separate ActivationFilterOverride value can narrow the restriction to linking and embedding scenarios.
The Office kill-bit list is independent of the former Internet Explorer ActiveX kill-bit list. If the two lists contain conflicting settings for the same control, the Office entry takes precedence within Office.
Security
Blocking the object reduces the attack surface exposed to Office documents and Office extensions that attempt to activate this particular Flash COM class. It does not remove or disable the underlying component system-wide, nor does it prevent unrelated applications from loading it through their own mechanisms.
This value covers only CLSID {D27CDB70-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}. The related Shockwave Flash Object uses the separate CLSID {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} and is not blocked by this registry value alone.
Possible side effects
Office documents, templates, or add-ins that depend on Macromedia Flash Factory Object can no longer load the associated content or functionality. An affected document may still open, but the blocked object will not run.
Notes
Microsoft documents this unversioned registry path for Office 2010 and Office 2013. For Office 2016, Microsoft specifies a path under Office\16.0\Common\COM Compatibility. The corresponding registry view for 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows is under Wow6432Node. Consequently, the value documented here affects only Office installations that read this exact path and registry view.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Support: Security Settings for COM objects in Office