CVE-2011-1276

Buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP2; Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac; Open XML File Format Converter for Mac; Excel Viewer SP2…

published June 16, 2011

CVSS
—
EPSS
28%
Percentile
98.1
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafty crafted Excel file could unleash chaos on your system! This buffer overflow vulnerability lets attackers execute arbitrary code or cause memory corruption just by opening a harmless-looking spreadsheet. 📊 Think of this like a restaurant menu with sneaky hidden items. If you don’t properly validate the requests, an unexpected order could end up ruining the entire kitchen’s operation. This vulnerability allows maliciously crafted spreadsheets to slip past defenses and wreak havoc. An attacker could send you a seemingly innocent Excel file that, when opened, might run malicious code. This could lead to everything from data theft to full system compromise, making it a surprisingly sneaky avenue for attacks. It's like inviting a wolf disguised as a sheep into your data center!

Put simply

Think of this like a restaurant menu with sneaky hidden items. If you don’t properly validate the requests, an unexpected order could end up ruining the entire kitchen’s operation. This vulnerability allows maliciously crafted spreadsheets to slip past defenses and wreak havoc. This buffer overflow vulnerability exists in several versions of Microsoft Excel and related products due to improper validation of record information. Opening a specially crafted Excel file can corrupt memory, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

What to do

An attacker could send you a seemingly innocent Excel file that, when opened, might run malicious code. This could lead to everything from data theft to full system compromise, making it a surprisingly sneaky avenue for attacks. It's like inviting a wolf disguised as a sheep into your data center! To mitigate this risk, ensure that your Office applications are updated to the latest versions that are patched against this vulnerability. Additionally, educate users to be cautious of unexpected Excel files and consider deploying security tools to scan attachments before opening them. You've got this! By following these steps, you can turn this vulnerability into a distant memory. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.28222 · 98.1th percentile
Published
2011-06-16T20:21Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 16 JUN 20:21Z
    Buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP2; Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac; Open XML File Format Converter for Mac; Excel Viewer SP2…
    cvelistv5