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Microsoft Excel EUVDEUVD-2026-100287

| CVE-2026-97769 HIGH
Improper Input Validation (CWE-20)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-7366-jxrq-39px
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Deliver crafted Excel file via email or web
  2. Delivery
    Victim opens workbook in Excel
  3. Exploit
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow in parser
  4. Execution
    Execute arbitrary code as current user
  5. Impact
    Compromise host and data

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the victim to open or preview a maliciously crafted Excel workbook in an affected Office build (UI:R in the CVSS vector) - there is no server-side or fully-remote unauthenticated path despite the AV:N labeling. Limiting factors: the attack depends entirely on user interaction (opening the attacker's file), so Protected View, Mark-of-the-Web blocking, and disabling automatic file previews materially reduce exploitability; no authentication or special target configuration is otherwise needed, and affected products span Office LTSC 2021/2024, Office LTSC/365 for Mac, Office Online Server, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise per EUVD-2026-100287.

Impact

This is a credible, actionable priority rather than a paper-high score. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R, C:H/I:H/A:H, score 8.8) describes low-complexity remote code execution requiring no privileges but mandating user interaction - consistent with the classic Office Excel file-open attack pattern, where 'network' really means a maliciously crafted workbook delivered by email, web, or share rather than a directly remotely-reachable service. The UI:R requirement meaningfully tempers real-world risk: a victim must open or preview the attacker's file, so this is not wormable or server-side auto-exploitable. No EPSS probability, no SSVC decision data, and no POC indicator were supplied, and the vulnerability is NOT in CISA KEV, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no evidence of active exploitation. Note a data discrepancy: the description explicitly states a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122/CWE-787 territory) while the assigned CWE is CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) - a common Microsoft mapping choice, but verify root cause with the MSRC advisory. Bottom line: high impact and low attacker effort once a file is opened, offset by the dependence on user interaction and the current absence of any exploitation or POC signal - patch promptly, especially for Office-heavy user populations, but it does not demand emergency out-of-band response absent new exploit intelligence.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious Excel workbook that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow during parsing and emails it to a target or hosts it on a web/file share. When the victim opens the file in an affected Office/Excel build, the overflow corrupts heap memory and allows execution of arbitrary code in the context of the user. No public proof-of-concept or active exploitation is identified in the provided data.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker execute code when a victim opens or previews a specially crafted Excel workbook in an affected Office build. The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/SU/C:H/I:H/A:H means the attacker needs the user to interact with the malicious file, not a server-side or fully unauthenticated service exploit, despite the network attack-vector label. Microsoft has released patches per the MSRC advisory; no public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation was identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patches are available from Microsoft through the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-97769; apply them as follows: update Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 to 16.0.17932.21056 or later, Office LTSC 2021 to 16.0.14334.20974 or later, and Office Online Server to 16.0.10417.20228 or later. For Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021/2024 and Office 365 for Mac, the fixed version is shown only as "publication" in the available data, so retrieve the current Mac package from the MSRC advisory, and for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise apply the latest Office security release via https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases. Until patching is complete, enforce Protected View and Mark-of-the-Web for files from the internet or untrusted locations, disable automatic file previews in Outlook/SharePoint/Teams, and restrict Excel document opening to trusted locations; these controls reduce exposure but can block legitimate files and disrupt workflows that rely on previews. Consider Attack Surface Reduction rules that block Office applications from creating child processes or executable content as a post-exploitation brake, understanding that they may interfere with legitimate add-ins or automation.

Affected VersionsENISA

Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 16.0.0 <16.0.17932.21056
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 16.0.1 <publication
Office Online Server 16.0.0.0 <16.0.10417.20228
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024 16.0.0 <publication
Microsoft Office 365 for Mac 1.0.0 <publication
Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 16.0.1 <16.0.14334.20974
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Affected Packages

euvd microsoft_office_ltsc_2021 fix: 16.0.14334.20974
euvd microsoft_office_ltsc_2024 fix: 16.0.17932.21056
euvd office_online_server fix: 16.0.10417.20228

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 3 packages in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw is a heap-based buffer overflow in Excel's handling of a crafted workbook, rooted in improper input validation (CWE-20) that permits malformed data to overflow a heap buffer during parsing or rendering. Although CVSS uses AV:N, the assessed exploitation path is file-based: the workbook must be delivered over a network or the web and then opened or previewed by a user (UI:R), with PR:N confirming no authentication is required. Affected code exists across multiple Office generations and platforms, including Microsoft Office LTSC 2021/2024, Office Online Server, the Mac editions of Office LTSC 2021/2024 and Office 365 for Mac, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, so the vulnerable component is the shared Excel/Office document-processing stack rather than a single Windows binary.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Crafted-file delivery is remote (AV:N) with no privileges but requires the user to open the workbook (UI:R); memory-corruption RCE in the user context yields full C:H/I:H/A:H.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:22 cve.org
HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Office Excel (CVE-2026-97769, CVSS 8.8) allows an attacker to run arbitrary code on a victim's workstation by getting them to open or preview a malicious spreadsheet. Because the vulnerable application is ubiquitous across finance, operations, and administrative functions, a single user opening a weaponized file could give an intruder a foothold with that user's privileges, exposing business data and enabling lateral movement. No public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation was identified at time of analysis, so this is a patching-priority issue rather than an active incident, though the breadth of Excel deployment makes it a meaningful organizational risk.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.8%
Top 45% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Microsoft Office Excel is deployed across the vast majority of enterprise and consumer environments
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.8%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

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