CVE-2019-1297: Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-03-17 as the remediation due date.

Patch available

What, why and how

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory.

What

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

What

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation

Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.

Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2022-03-03.

Public PoC / exploit material

Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.

None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path: a network path → vulnerable operation → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface: Network
Privileges required: None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction: Required interaction required
Attack complexity: Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary: Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness ? CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration.: CWE not yet assigned
CVSS vector ? CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land: After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.

NetworkUnauthenticatedRemote code executionCISA KEV

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2019-9862Known-exploited evidence recorded

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

Official EUVD record ↗

CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-567Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Office

.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1257 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1259 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1259 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1260 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1260 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1261 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1261 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1262 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1262 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1263 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1263 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1264 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1264 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1295 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1295 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1296 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1296 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1297 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1297 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1327 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1327 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1328 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1328 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1329 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1329 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1330 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1330 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1331 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1331 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1402 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1402 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1442 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1442 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1443 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1443 Ré

Official advisory ↗

CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-435Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Office

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été corrigées dans Microsoft Office . Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une atteinte à la confidentialité des données, une élévation de privilèges, un contournement de la fonctionnalité de sécurité et une exécution de code à distance.

Official advisory ↗

JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2019-009196複数の Microsoft 製品におけるリモートでコードを実行される脆弱性

Microsoft Excel、Microsoft Office、Office 365 ProPlus には、Microsoft Excel ソフトウェアがメモリ内のオブジェクトの適切な処理に失敗した場合、リモートでコードを実行される脆弱性が存在します。ベンダは、本脆弱性を「Microsoft Excel のリモートでコードが実行される脆弱性」として公開しています。

Official advisory ↗

KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5058MS 9월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

기능 우회 취약점(CVE-2019-1220) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 긴급 o 관련 KB번호 - 4516065, 4516046, 4516067, 4516046, 4516044, 4516070, 4516068, 4516066, 4516058, 4512578, 4515384, 4516055, 4516046, 4516026, 4516046 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 8. ChakraCore 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 이용자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 웹 페이지를 열람할 경우, 원격코드실행을 허용하는 취약점 ※ ChakraCore : Edge의 자바스크립트 엔진, Cloud, 게임엔진, IoT 등에서도 사용 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2019-1138,CVE-2019-1217,CVE-2019-1237,CVE-2019-1298) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 긴급 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 9. Office 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 이용자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 문서를 열람할 경우, 원격코드실행을 허용하는 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2019-1297) - 보안기능 우회 취약점(CVE-2019-1264) - 정보노출 취약점(CVE-2019-1263) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 중요 o 관련 KB번호 - 4475574, 4475579, 4475566, 4475607, 4475583, 4464566 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 10. Visual Studio 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 공격자가 프로그램 버그(실행 처리 구문의 허점 등)을 악용하여 보호되는 자원들에 임의로 접근하는 권한상승 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 권한상승 취약점(CVE-2019-1232) o 영향 : 권한상승 o 중요도 : 중요 o 관련 KB번호 - 4513696 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 11. SharePoint Server, SharePoint Enterprise Server 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 이용자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 문서를 열람할 경우, 원격코드실행을 허용하는 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2019-1257,CVE-2019-1296) - 권한상승 취약점(CVE-2019-1260) - DID 취약점(CVE-201

Official advisory ↗

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status ? Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.: Patch available
Affected: Microsoft Excel: 2013 RT Service Pack 1, 2016 (32-bit edition), 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions), 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions), 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions), 2016 (64-bit edition), 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions)
Microsoft Office: 2019 for Mac, 2016 for Mac, 2019 for 64-bit editions, 2019 for 32-bit editions
Office 365 ProPlus: 32-bit Systems, 64-bit Systems
Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action: Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround: No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.

Evidence and provenance

Published 11 Sept 2019 · Last source change 21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC · CWE not yet assigned

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1

CVSS sourceNIST NVD

EPSS source

The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.

FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-01

European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2019-9862

Product sourceCISA KEV

Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references

CWE sourceUnavailable

NVD statusNVD enriched

Missing structured fields: CWE classification. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗

1 Sep 2026, 02:45 UTC
ENISA known-exploited stateENISA EUVD now records this CVE in its known-exploited dataset.
Before
not listed in ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset
After
listed in ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset (EUVD-2019-9862)
ENISA EUVD ↗
1 Sep 2026, 02:42 UTC
ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2019-9862 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.
Before
not recorded
After
{"euvdId":"EUVD-2019-9862"}
ENISA EUVD ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions); 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions); 2013 RT Service Pack 1; 2016 (32-bit edition); 2016 (64-bit edition); 2016 for Mac · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
After
Microsoft Excel: 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions), 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions), 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions), 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions), 2013 RT Service Pack 1, 2016 (32-bit edition), 2016 (64-bit edition); Microsoft Office: 2016 for Mac, 2019 for 32-bit editions, 2019 for 64-bit editions, 2019 for Mac; Office 365 ProPlus: 32-bit Systems, 64-bit Systems · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
CNA ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2019-1297; added remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2019-1297.
Before
no authoritative guidance recorded
After
patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2019-1297 · remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2019-1297
portal.msrc.microsoft.com ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions); 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions); 2013 RT Service Pack 1; 2016 (32-bit edition); 2016 (64-bit edition); 2016 for Mac · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
After
2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions); 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions); 2013 RT Service Pack 1; 2016 (32-bit edition); 2016 (64-bit edition); 2016 for Mac · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
CNA ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
Before
Awaiting fix
After
Patch available
portal.msrc.microsoft.com ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
CVSS scoreCVSS scoring authority changed from CISA ADP to NIST NVD; the displayed base score remained 8.8.
Before
8.8 (CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
After
8.8 (CVSS 3.1 · NIST NVD · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
NIST NVD ↗
21 Oct 2025, 23:45 UTC
Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.
CNA ↗

2019-09-11CVE published

2022-03-03Added to CISA KEV

2025-10-21Fixed release or patch reference recorded

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2019-9862↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗

Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report

CVE: Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS: Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS: Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE: Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA: CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD: National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT: A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC: Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF: Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL: Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published severity in operational context

Evidence used

Compensating controls

Verification

National CERT insights
?
CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

EUVD-2019-9862

What, why and how

Exploit reality and attack path

Official authority intelligence

Patch and workaround

Evidence and provenance

What changed after publication