CVE-2025-59225: Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2025-59225 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Excel, rated Important by Microsoft, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). An attacker can exploit it by an attacker with local access, without any privileges and only if a user takes an action. Microsoft has not reported exploitation in the wild and rates exploitation as less likely. The EPSS model estimates a 0.38% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 32% of all scored vulnerabilities. Microsoft released the fix on 14 October 2025 in the October 2025 Patch Tuesday, delivered through 2 security updates (KB5002797, KB5002794). It affects 13 products in 1 product family (Microsoft Office).
Key facts
- CVE ID
- CVE-2025-59225
- Severity
- High CVSS 7.8
- Microsoft severity
- Important
- Impact
- Remote Code Execution
- Exploited in the wild
- No
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Exploitation likelihood
- Less Likely
- Weakness
- CWE-416
- EPSS
- 0.38% (percentile 32%)
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Released
- Last updated
- Patch Tuesday
- October 2025 Patch Tuesday
- Product families
- Microsoft Office
CVSS score and vector
Microsoft scores CVE-2025-59225 at 7.8 (temporal 6.8) using CVSS 3.1. 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
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges required | None |
| User interaction | Required |
| Scope | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality impact | High |
| Integrity impact | High |
| Availability impact | High |
| Exploit code maturity | Unproven |
| Remediation level | Official fix |
| Report confidence | Confirmed |
Description
Use after free in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
Frequently asked questions (Microsoft)
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.
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.
Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability?
No, the Preview Pane is not an attack vector.
Affected products (13)
Microsoft Office
| Product | Security update | Type | Fixed build | Restart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Online Server | KB5002797 | Security Update | 16.0.10417.20059 | Maybe |
| Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 | Release Notes | Security Update | 16.102.25101223 | Maybe |
| Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 64-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 32-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 64-bit editions | Click to Run | Security Update | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | No |
| Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024 | Release Notes | Security Update | 16.102.25101223 | Maybe |
| Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit edition) | KB5002794 | Security Update | 16.0.5522.1000 | Maybe |
| Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit edition) | KB5002794 | Security Update | 16.0.5522.1000 | Maybe |
Security updates (2)
NIST NVD data
- NVD status
- Analyzed
- NVD CVSS
- 7.8 (HIGH)
- NVD weakness
- CWE-416
- Published to NVD
- NVD last modified
Affected configurations (CPE)
| Product | Vulnerable versions |
|---|---|
| 365 apps (x64) | all listed versions |
| 365 apps (x86) | all listed versions |
| excel 2016 (x64) | all listed versions |
| excel 2016 (x86) | all listed versions |
| office 2019 (x64) | all listed versions |
| office 2019 (x86) | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2021 (x64) | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2021 (x86) | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2021 | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2024 (x64) | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2024 (x86) | all listed versions |
| office long term servicing channel 2024 | all listed versions |
| office online server | before 16.0.10417.20059 |
References
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-59225 (Vendor Advisory)
Acknowledgments
- Quan Jin with DBAPPSecurity WeBin Lab
Revision history
| Version | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Information published. |