CVE-2009-3037

Buffer overflow in xlssr.dll in the Autonomy KeyView XLS viewer (aka File Viewer for Excel), as used in IBM Lotus Notes 5.x through 8.5.x, Symantec Mail…

published September 1, 2009

CVSS
—
EPSS
6%
Percentile
93.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ An unsuspecting Excel file could be your doorway to disaster! This buffer overflow in xlssr.dll can let attackers execute arbitrary code just by opening a malicious .xls attachment. 😱 Think of it like a sneaky waiter who serves you a dish with a hidden ingredient — once you take a bite, it triggers a reaction that changes everything about your meal. In this case, the 'wrong dish' is a crafted Excel file that opens up access to your system! With this vulnerability, a remote attacker could potentially take control of your system, execute malicious code, and wreak havoc on your data. Imagine the chaos if someone could delete files, steal sensitive information, or manipulate your email settings — absolutely devastating!

Put simply

Think of it like a sneaky waiter who serves you a dish with a hidden ingredient — once you take a bite, it triggers a reaction that changes everything about your meal. In this case, the 'wrong dish' is a crafted Excel file that opens up access to your system! The vulnerability arises in the Autonomy KeyView XLS viewer (found in various products like IBM Lotus Notes and Symantec Mail Security) due to inadequate handling of a crafted .xls spreadsheet, leading to buffer overflow which allows arbitrary code execution.

What to do

With this vulnerability, a remote attacker could potentially take control of your system, execute malicious code, and wreak havoc on your data. Imagine the chaos if someone could delete files, steal sensitive information, or manipulate your email settings — absolutely devastating! To defend against this threat, ensure that all products using xlssr.dll are updated to their latest versions. Additionally, enforce strict attachment policies in your email systems to prevent opening suspicious .xls files. Regularly audit your security settings to identify vulnerable components. You can tackle this! Stay proactive, patch those vulnerabilities, and you'll keep your digital kingdom secure. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.05718 · 93.0th percentile
Published
2009-09-01T16:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 01 SEP 16:00Z
    Buffer overflow in xlssr.dll in the Autonomy KeyView XLS viewer (aka File Viewer for Excel), as used in IBM Lotus Notes 5.x through 8.5.x, Symantec Mail…
    cvelistv5