CVE-2010-3238

Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, and Office 2004 for Mac, does not properly validate binary file-format information, which allows remote attackers to…

published October 13, 2010

CVSS
—
EPSS
21%
Percentile
97.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafted Excel document is all it takes to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems! This is known as the "Negative Future Function Vulnerability" — a name that sounds like a bad sci-fi movie plot! 😱 Think of this vulnerability like a sneaky waiter who serves you a dish that looks perfectly fine but has a hidden ingredient that makes you sick. The Excel file may seem normal, but it's secretly packed with malicious code that can wreak havoc on your system. If an attacker sends you a specially crafted Excel document, they could take control of your system and execute any commands they desire. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or worse, turning your device into a zombie in their cyber army!

Put simply

Think of this vulnerability like a sneaky waiter who serves you a dish that looks perfectly fine but has a hidden ingredient that makes you sick. The Excel file may seem normal, but it's secretly packed with malicious code that can wreak havoc on your system. This vulnerability occurs because Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and Office 2004 for Mac fail to properly validate binary file-format information, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary code through manipulated documents.

What to do

If an attacker sends you a specially crafted Excel document, they could take control of your system and execute any commands they desire. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or worse, turning your device into a zombie in their cyber army! To protect yourself, consider upgrading to a newer version of Microsoft Excel that has patched this vulnerability. Additionally, always exercise caution when opening unexpected Excel files, and ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date for added protection. You've got this! Stay vigilant, and keep your systems secure! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.21033 · 97.6th percentile
Published
2010-10-13T18:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 OCT 18:00Z
    Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, and Office 2004 for Mac, does not properly validate binary file-format information, which allows remote attackers to…
    cvelistv5