Microsoft Excel 2000/2001/2002 memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Excel 2000/2001/2002. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2004-0846. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Excel 2000/2001/2002 (Spreadsheet Software). It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Unknown vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2001 for Mac, and v.X for Mac allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious file containing certain parameters that are not properly validated.

The bug was discovered 10/12/2004. The weakness was released 10/12/2004 by Brett Moore with Security-Assessment.com as MS04-033 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared at microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2004-0846 since 09/08/2004. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available.

The exploit is available at cvsweb.nessus.org. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 15458 (MS04-033: Microsoft Excel Code Execution (886836)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90187 (Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution (MS04-033)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch MS04-033 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 31371.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (17683), Tenable (15458), SecurityFocus (BID 11373†), OSVDB (10694†) and Secunia (SA12800†). 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: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 15458
Nessus Name: MS04-033: Microsoft Excel Code Execution (886836)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Patch: MS04-033
TippingPoint: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

09/08/2004 🔍
10/12/2004 +34 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
11/03/2004 +21 days 🔍
07/07/2025 +7551 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS04-033
Researcher: Brett Moore
Organization: Security-Assessment.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-0846 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0846
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-881

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 17683 - Microsoft Excel MS04-033 patch is not installed, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 11373 - Microsoft Excel File Handler Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 12800 - Microsoft Excel Buffer Overflow Vulnerability, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 10694 - Microsoft Excel XLS File Local Overflow (MS04-033)
SecurityTracker: 1011635
SecuriTeam: securiteam.com
Vulnerability Center: 5560 - [MS04-033] Microsoft Excel Allows Remote Code Execution, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 10/13/2004 12:38
Updated: 07/07/2025 17:37
Changes: 10/13/2004 12:38 (98), 06/29/2019 15:38 (3), 01/02/2025 18:40 (18), 07/07/2025 17:37 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:0AA:103

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

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