High severity · published Sep 8, 2026
CVE-2026-81959
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
7.8
CVSS
0.5%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.5% · higher than 40% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OF
Office · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
M3
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise · Microsoft
16.0.1 before 16.0.20326.20140 · source: vendor
ME
Microsoft Excel 2016 · Microsoft
16.0.0.0 before 16.0.5569.1003 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office 2016 · Microsoft
16.0.0 before 16.0.5569.1003 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office 2019 · Microsoft
19.0.0 before 16.0.10417.20207 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office 365 for Mac · Microsoft
1.0.0 before 16.113.26091433 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 · Microsoft
16.0.1 before 16.0.14334.20906 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 · Microsoft
16.0.0 before 16.0.17932.20976 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 · Microsoft
16.0.1 before 16.113.26091433 · source: vendor
MO
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024 · Microsoft
16.0.0 before 16.113.26091433 · source: vendor
EX
Excel · Microsoft
2016; 2016 · source: NVD
M3
Microsoft 365 · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81959
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81959
vendor-advisory
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-81959
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