Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source data

Overview

Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.

Impact & technical details

Remote Code Execution

According to the CVSS metric, user interaction is required (UI:R). What interaction would the user have to do? An attacker must send a user a malicious Office file and convince them to open it.

According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is local (AV:L). Why does the CVE title indicate that this is a remote code execution? The word Remote in the title refers to the location of the attacker. This type of exploit is sometimes referred to as Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE). The attack itself is carried out locally. This means an attacker or victim needs to execute code from the local machine to exploit the vulnerability.

Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector.

CVSS base score

7.8 / 10

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Highest base score supplied by MSRC for this record; the vector belongs to that score. Ratings can vary by product. Microsoft Important is displayed as High; Moderate is displayed as Medium.

Affected products

• Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit edition)
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit edition)
• Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions
• Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions
• Microsoft Office 365 for Mac
• Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions

Source guidance

Remediation

• Click to Run
• Release Notes

At least one Microsoft vendor-fix reference is available. Check each affected product for its applicable update, prerequisites, and supported version.

Authoritative sources & updates

Findings and update information come from the linked publishers. GTP compiles the public record and provides the recommendation above. CVSS ratings shown here come from Microsoft. NVD references provide additional public context.

• Microsoft Security Response Center (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft security update · 5002884 (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft remediation guidance (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft remediation guidance (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft security update · Release Notes (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft security update · 5002903 (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft remediation guidance (opens in a new tab)
• Microsoft security update · Release Notes (opens in a new tab)