High severity · published Feb 25, 2009
CVE-2009-0238
Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution
In wildKEV
8.8
CVSS
42.9%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
Microsoft Office Excel 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP1; Excel Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3; Excel Viewer; Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP1; and Excel in Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Excel document that triggers an access attempt on an invalid object, as exploited in the wild in February 2009 by Trojan.Mdropper.AC.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)42.9% · higher than 99% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed Apr 14, 2026
Federal remediation dueApr 28, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OF
Office · Microsoft
2004; 2008 · source: NVD, KEV
EX
Excel · Microsoft
2000; 2002; 2003; 2007 · source: NVD
EV
Excel Viewer · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
OC
Office Compatibility Pack · Microsoft
2007 · source: NVD
OE
Office Excel Viewer · Microsoft
2003 · source: NVD
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
[CISA KEV] CVE-2009-0238: Microsoft Office - Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution
Microsoft Office Excel contains a remote code execution vulnerability that could allow an attacker to take complete control of an affected system if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file that includes a malformed object.
OFOfficeCVE-2009-0238
Apr 14, 2026·CISA KEV
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-0238
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-0238
CISA KEV catalogue
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
x_refsource_CONFIRM
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx
vdb-entry
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1023
vdb-entry
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/48875
third-party-advisory
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html
vdb-entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33870
x_refsource_MISC
http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-022310-4202-99
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