CVE-2011-1987

Array index error in Microsoft Excel 2003 SP3 and 2007 SP2; Excel in Office 2007 SP2; Excel 2010 Gold and SP1; Excel in Office 2010 Gold and SP1; Office 2004…

published September 15, 2011

CVSS
—
EPSS
20%
Percentile
97.5
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ An array index error in Microsoft Excel can lead to unexpected behavior — think of it as a recipe that accidentally calls for the wrong ingredient! 🍰 This vulnerability is like a chef misreading a recipe and using salt instead of sugar, leading to a disastrous dish. In the tech kitchen, when Excel mishandles an index, it can open the door for attackers to whip up malicious code instead of just a simple spreadsheet. If exploited, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code on your system through a crafted spreadsheet file. This means they could gain control over your data, install malware, or even compromise your entire computer — absolutely devastating!

Put simply

This vulnerability is like a chef misreading a recipe and using salt instead of sugar, leading to a disastrous dish. In the tech kitchen, when Excel mishandles an index, it can open the door for attackers to whip up malicious code instead of just a simple spreadsheet. This vulnerability arises from an out-of-bounds array indexing error in several versions of Microsoft Excel, allowing attackers to manipulate data processing in such a way that arbitrary code could be executed. Essentially, it lets bad actors slip through the cracks and run unauthorized commands.

What to do

If exploited, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code on your system through a crafted spreadsheet file. This means they could gain control over your data, install malware, or even compromise your entire computer — absolutely devastating! To protect yourself, ensure that you are using the latest patches available for your version of Excel. Regularly check for updates from Microsoft and have robust antivirus software in place to detect potential threats. Staying proactive will keep you safer! You've got this! Stay vigilant and keep your software updated to fend off these sneaky vulnerabilities! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.20486 · 97.5th percentile
Published
2011-09-15T10:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 15 SEP 10:00Z
    Array index error in Microsoft Excel 2003 SP3 and 2007 SP2; Excel in Office 2007 SP2; Excel 2010 Gold and SP1; Excel in Office 2010 Gold and SP1; Office 2004…
    cvelistv5