CVE-2015-2520

Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel for Mac 2011 and 2016, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow remote attackers to execute…

published September 9, 2015

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

🚨 A crafted Office document can turn your Excel into a dangerous leaky faucet! 😱 Think of this vulnerability like a restaurant whose staff serves food without checking the ingredients first. If a rogue chef slips in something harmful, it could lead to disastrous consequences for diners — just like how this flaw in Excel allows attackers to execute any code they want! An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code on the target machine, potentially compromising sensitive data or taking control of the system entirely. This could lead to unauthorized access, loss of data integrity, or even ransomware attacks.

Put simply

Think of this vulnerability like a restaurant whose staff serves food without checking the ingredients first. If a rogue chef slips in something harmful, it could lead to disastrous consequences for diners — just like how this flaw in Excel allows attackers to execute any code they want! The Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through specially crafted Office documents, specifically targeting Excel versions and related products. If a user opens such a document, the vulnerability can be triggered, leading to potential system takeover.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code on the target machine, potentially compromising sensitive data or taking control of the system entirely. This could lead to unauthorized access, loss of data integrity, or even ransomware attacks. To protect against this vulnerability, users should ensure their Excel applications are updated to the latest patches that address memory corruption issues. Additionally, avoid opening unsolicited or suspicious Office documents. Implementing robust antivirus and endpoint protection can add an extra layer of security. You've got this! With a few simple updates and precautions, your systems will be fortified in no time! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.27690 · 98.1th percentile
Published
2015-09-09T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 09 SEP 00:00Z
    Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel for Mac 2011 and 2016, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow remote attackers to execute…
    cvelistv5