CVE-2021-40442: Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

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

Category

Remote Code Execution

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2021-Nov

Released

2021-11-09

Last Updated

2021-11-16

EPSS Score

6.17% (percentile: 90.8%)

FAQ

Are the updates for the Microsoft Office for Mac currently available? The security update for Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac and Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 are not immediately available. The updates will be released as soon as possible, and when they are available, customers will be notified via a revision to this CVE information. Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector.

Affected Products (16)

Microsoft Office

• Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2013 Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions
• Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions
• Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac
• Microsoft Office Online Server
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems
• Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021
• Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 64-bit editions
• Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit edition)
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit edition)
• Microsoft Excel 2013 RT Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013 Service Pack 1

Security Updates (8)

• 5002063
• Release Notes
• 5002053
• 5002056
• 5002056
• 5002072
• 5002072
• 5002065

Acknowledgments

Anonymous Finder

Revision History

• 2021-11-09: Information published.
• 2021-11-16: Microsoft is announcing the availability of the security updates for Microsoft Office for Mac. Customers running affected Mac software should install the update for their product to be protected from this vulnerability. Customers running other Microsoft Office software do not need to take any action. See the Release Notes for more information and download links.