A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Excel up to 2019 (Spreadsheet Software). This affects some unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

The weakness was presented 09/10/2019 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated in cooperation with Microsoft. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2019-1297 since 11/26/2018. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The advisory points out:

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.

The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 03/03/2022 with a due date of 03/17/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

Productinfo

Type

• Spreadsheet Software

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Excel

Version

• 365 ProPlus
• 2010 SP2
• 2013 RT SP1
• 2013 SP1
• 2016
• 2019

License

• commercial

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