Microsoft Excel up to 2002 Macro Security memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Excel up to 2002. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Macro Security Handler. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2003-0821. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Excel up to 2002 (Spreadsheet Software). It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the component Macro Security Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, and integrity. The summary by CVE is:

Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, and 2002 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a spreadsheet with a malicious XLM (Excel 4) macro that bypasses the macro security model.

The bug was discovered 10/15/2003. The weakness was published 11/11/2003 by Kazuyuki Housaka as MS03-050 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2003-0821 since 09/18/2003. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 27 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11920 (MS03-050: Word and/or Excel may allow arbitrary code to run (831527)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 110022 (Microsoft Excel 2000 Security Update KB830349 Missing (MS03-050)).

Applying the patch MS03-050 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at office.microsoft.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (13681), Tenable (11920), SecurityFocus (BID 9010†), OSVDB (2801†) and Secunia (SA10194†). Additional details are provided at support.microsoft.com. Similar entry is available at VDB-384. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.2

VulDB Base Score: 5.4
VulDB Temp Score: 5.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

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EPSS Percentile: 🔍

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Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 11920
Nessus Name: MS03-050: Word and/or Excel may allow arbitrary code to run (831527)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS03-050

Timelineinfo

09/18/2003 🔍
10/15/2003 +27 days 🔍
11/11/2003 +26 days 🔍
11/11/2003 +0 days 🔍
11/11/2003 +0 days 🔍
11/11/2003 +0 days 🔍
11/11/2003 +0 days 🔍
11/12/2003 +0 days 🔍
11/13/2003 +1 days 🔍
12/15/2003 +32 days 🔍
07/21/2025 +7889 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS03-050
Researcher: Kazuyuki Housaka
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2003-0821 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0821
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-385

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 13681 - Microsoft Excel macro allows attacker to execute code, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 9010
Secunia: 10194 - Microsoft Word and Excel Execution of Arbitrary Code, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 2801 - Microsoft Word and Excel Execution of Arbitrary Code
SecuriTeam: securiteam.com
Vulnerability Center: 2837 - [MS03-050] Microsoft Excel Allows Code Execution, Medium

Misc.: 🔍
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Entryinfo

Created: 11/12/2003 11:42
Updated: 07/21/2025 04:23
Changes: 11/12/2003 11:42 (88), 12/13/2016 20:22 (1), 03/09/2021 08:06 (3), 03/09/2021 08:09 (1), 07/21/2025 04:23 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:FE8:103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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