Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.</p> <p>Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.</p>
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft Office 2019 | 19.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | 16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2016 | 16.0.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 | 13.0.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
- Microsoft Office 2019 VendorMicrosoft Affected 19.0.0 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.1 to before https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Excel 2016 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 VendorMicrosoft Affected 13.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.0.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2010 sp2 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2013 sp1 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* | 2013 sp1 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2016 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2019 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2010 sp2 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:* Versions 2013 sp1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2016 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2019 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Office 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
- Fix · CNA Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Microsoft) Fixed in https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-1332
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-42g3-v99m-3ggh
- 2026-10-16 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
More Microsoft 365 Apps vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-14173 Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-09240 Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-25471 Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-17652 Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-17368 Microsoft Word Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-17363 Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-1332 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-1332 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-42g3-v99m-3ggh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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