Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

CheckOps priority index

6.6/10 Patch within 7 days

Severity8.8

Probability2.2

Exploitation4/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 21.8% higher than 97.6% of CVEs

CVSS 3.1 8.8 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:

Exploited for 1,706 days 03 Mar 2022

CISA due date 17 Mar 2022 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 4 / 5

KEV catalog (CISA)03 Mar 2022
Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)03 Mar 2022
Used by ransomwareno
EPSS above 10 %21.8%
No account, over the networkyes

What to do

Fix

Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.

CISA guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Affected products

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft OfficeOffice 365 ProPlusExcel

Affected versions

2013 RT Service Pack 1
2016 (32-bit edition)
2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions)
2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions)
2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions)
2019 for Mac
2016 for Mac
2019 for 64-bit editions
2016 (64-bit edition)
2019 for 32-bit editions
32-bit Systems
64-bit Systems

Open source packages OSV

Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.

Timeline

11 Sept 2019
Published
03 Mar 2022
Exploitation reported (ENISA)
03 Mar 2022
Added to the KEV catalog
17 Mar 2022
CISA remediation due date
26 Sept 2026
EPSS peak: 21.8%

References

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