CVE-2024-49029 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2024
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Microsoft Excel that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems when users open maliciously crafted Excel files. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain file format elements during the parsing process, specifically related to how Excel processes structured data and formulas within spreadsheet documents. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted Excel file containing malicious code or exploits memory corruption issues during file processing, successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise without user interaction beyond opening the file.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues that occur when Excel attempts to parse malformed or specially constructed data elements within spreadsheet files. These flaws typically manifest as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or heap corruption scenarios where attacker-controlled data influences the execution flow of the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple file opening operations, making it an attractive target for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Attackers often package malicious Excel files within email attachments or download links that appear legitimate to unsuspecting users.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to gain full control over affected systems, allowing them to install malware, establish persistence mechanisms, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use compromised machines as launch points for broader network attacks. The attack surface extends beyond individual endpoints to include enterprise networks where Excel files are commonly shared and used across organizations. This vulnerability also aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution phases, particularly leveraging social engineering and malicious file execution techniques that bypass traditional security controls.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this risk including immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates as released through regular security bulletins. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be enhanced to detect and block suspicious Excel file attachments containing known malicious patterns or indicators of compromise. User education programs must emphasize the importance of verifying file sources before opening spreadsheet documents, particularly those received via email or downloaded from untrusted websites. Additional mitigations include implementing application control policies that restrict execution of potentially malicious code within Office applications, disabling automatic execution of macros in Excel files, and maintaining regular backup procedures to ensure rapid recovery from successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes continuous monitoring and layered security controls to protect against sophisticated threats targeting common software applications.