Skip to main content

Microsoft Excel EUVDEUVD-2026-99811

| CVE-2026-97017 HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-jf2j-28x9-gxxr
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Deliver crafted Excel workbook via phishing
  2. Delivery
    Victim opens malicious file
  3. Exploit
    Trigger use-after-free in Excel
  4. Execution
    Reuse freed object for code execution
  5. Impact
    Execute code as current user

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a user to open or preview an attacker-crafted Excel workbook in an affected build of Microsoft Office Excel (LTSC 2021/2024, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office for Mac, or Office Online Server). The required user interaction (UI:R) is the key limiting factor: the attack cannot fire without victim action, making phishing and social engineering the realistic delivery path. No authentication is needed (PR:N) and code executes in the context of the opening user rather than with elevated privileges. Despite the AV:N label there is no indication of a server-side or auto-triggering network vector.

Impact

This is a genuine patch-now priority for environments running Microsoft Excel. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, 8.8) describes an unauthenticated, low-complexity network-vector use-after-free with high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact, mitigated only by required user interaction (UI:R). In practice this is a client-side file-open bug rather than a server-reachable service flaw, so the AV:N label overstates remote reachability - exploitation realistically requires luring a user to open a crafted workbook rather than attacking a listening service. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public POC is present in the provided data, so there is no confirmed active exploitation: no public exploit identified at time of analysis. The combination of a ubiquitous product, a memory-corruption RCE class (CWE-416), and an available vendor patch means this should still be prioritized despite the absence of exploitation telemetry, since UAF bugs in Office are historically attractive phishing payloads.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious Excel workbook that triggers a use-after-free condition and delivers it via phishing email or a download link. When the victim opens the file, reuse of the freed object is manipulated to execute attacker-controlled code in the context of the current user. No public exploit code is identified in the available data, and successful exploitation depends on the victim opening the file (UI:R).

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Remote code execution in Microsoft Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to run arbitrary code in the context of the user who opens or previews a specially crafted workbook, affecting Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 and 2024, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office for Mac, and Office Online Server. The attack requires user interaction (UI:R) and no authentication (PR:N), with code executing at the user's privilege level rather than elevated; phishing or social engineering is the realistic delivery path. A vendor patch is available, and no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor patch immediately: Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 should be updated to 16.0.14334.20974 or later, Office LTSC 2024 to 16.0.17932.21056 or later, and Office Online Server to 16.0.10417.20228 or later. For Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, install the latest build from https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases, and for Office for Mac apply the fixed versions published by Microsoft as referenced in the MSRC advisory (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-97017). Until patching is complete, reduce exposure by ensuring Protected View is enabled for files from the internet and email attachments, disabling the Outlook and File Explorer preview panes for Office documents, and blocking or quarantining untrusted Excel attachments at the email and web gateways; these controls add friction for users but directly block the UI:R path required for exploitation. Because the attack executes in the user's context and not with elevated privileges, standard user accounts limit the blast radius, and application allow-listing or Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office can further contain a successful exploit.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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 use-after-free (CWE-416) in Microsoft Excel's parsing and rendering of workbook content, where a memory object is freed but later referenced, leading to memory corruption that can be redirected to arbitrary code execution. Tags also classify it as a denial-of-service and memory-corruption issue, indicating that malformed input can crash Excel or be leveraged for code execution. Despite the AV:N vector, there is no server-side or auto-triggering network vector; the network component reflects delivery of the malicious file (email, web download, or shared document), and exploitation requires the victim to open or preview the workbook in an affected build. The affected builds span Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 (before 16.0.14334.20974), Office LTSC 2024 (before 16.0.17932.21056), Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (current version listed at aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases), Office Online Server (before 16.0.10417.20228), and Office for Mac (LTSC 2021/2024 and Office 365 for Mac, pending published fixed builds).

Know when 365 Apps gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

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

File delivered over network (AV:N) but requires the victim to open it (UI:R); no auth needed (PR:N); the use-after-free yields full code execution as the user, so C/I/A are all High.

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

Use after free in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Excel and related Office applications could let an attacker run arbitrary code on an employee's system when a specially crafted workbook is opened or previewed, creating risk of data theft, malware installation, and operational disruption. The attack requires user interaction and targets document-heavy roles such as finance, HR, and legal, making phishing awareness and rapid patching critical. Patch available per vendor advisory, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, so leadership should direct immediate remediation to reduce organizational exposure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.7%
Top 47% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Microsoft Excel is deployed across a huge fraction 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 0.7%
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

Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

CVE-2024-21413 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 13

Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotel

CVE-2021-42292 HIGH
7.8 Nov 10

Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authenti

CVE-2023-35311 HIGH
8.8 Jul 11

Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely

CVE-2023-21715 HIGH
7.3 Feb 14

Microsoft Publisher Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low att

CVE-2026-21509 HIGH POC
7.8 Jan 26

Microsoft Office contains a security feature bypass (CVE-2026-21509, CVSS 7.8) where reliance on untrusted inputs in sec

CVE-2026-21514 HIGH
7.8 Feb 10

Microsoft Office Word contains a security decision bypass (CVE-2026-21514, CVSS 7.8) through reliance on untrusted input

CVE-2021-38646 HIGH
7.8 Sep 15

Microsoft Office Access Connectivity Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vu

CVE-2021-34478 HIGH
7.8 Aug 12

Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentic

CVE-2021-34501 HIGH
7.8 Jul 14

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentica

CVE-2025-47957 HIGH POC
8.4 Jun 10

Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Office Word that allows local, unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary

CVE-2022-41106 HIGH
8.8 Nov 09

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely expl

CVE-2023-33148 HIGH POC
7.8 Jul 11

Microsoft Office Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy