Threats / Spreadsheet::ParseExcel / CVE-2023-7101
CVE-2023-7101
· EUVD no mirror located
· GCVE no mirror located
Verified 2026-06-22
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel vulnerability
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel contains a remote code execution vulnerability through unsafe evaluation of Number format strings from Excel files, allowing arbitrary code execution when processing malicious spreadsheets.
Verdict
Today item — known-exploited.
An attacker can craft a malicious Excel file with specially formatted Number strings that, when parsed by Spreadsheet::ParseExcel, execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild.
01
Is it exploitable?
— the evidence, ranked above the scoreReported exploitation
2 independent public reports of in-the-wild exploitation are cataloged.Distinct reporting sources (vendor, incident response, government); open them for the underlying claims.
Exploited in the wild
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2024-01-02).
Probability (EPSS)
EPSS 0.167 — modeled likelihood of exploitation activity.EPSS is a daily-changing model output — open the source for today's value.
Severity / affected
Affected: Spreadsheet::ParseExcel, Spreadsheet::ParseExcel. Confirm exact fixed builds in the vendor advisory.
Weakness (CWE)
Mapped to CWE-95 Eval Injection — weakness family: Injection.CWE assignment from the public NVD record; the weakness class drives how the flaw is exploited.
02
Who’s exploiting it?
— attribution turns risk into urgencyAttribution not established
No confirmed (advisory-backed) threat-actor attribution is established for this record. Absence of a named actor is not absence of compromise — see Coverage & confidence.
03
Why it matters
— the attack path, told twice: adversary, then board1
Front door — unauthenticated access narrative 1
Attacker
Craft a malicious Excel file embedding code in Number format strings.
Business
Attacker gains arbitrary code execution on systems processing the file.
2
Keys to the kingdom — privilege/identity takeover narrative 2
Attacker
Distribute the file via email, file sharing, or compromised websites.
Business
Victim organization's systems become compromised without user awareness of the threat.
3
Lateral reach — past segmentation narrative 3
Attacker
Execute post-exploitation activities including data exfiltration or lateral movement.
Business
Sensitive data is stolen or internal systems are further compromised, escalating business impact.
04
What to do
— defensible action- Remediate per the vendor advisory — confirm the fixed build for your version and verify exposure.1
Say it to the boardA vulnerability with this evidence profile is a defensible budget line, not a backlog ticket — fund the change against the proof above.
05