(MS11-096) Vulnerability in Microsoft Excel Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2640241)
Publish date: December 14, 2011
Severity: HIGH
CVE Identifier: CVE-2011-3403
Advisory Date: DEC 14, 2011
DESCRIPTION
This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Office. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the logged-on user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Installing and configuring Office File Validation (OFV) to prevent the opening of suspicious files blocks the attack vectors for exploiting the vulnerabilities described in CVE-2011-3403.
SOLUTION
AFFECTED SOFTWARE AND VERSION
- Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac (KB2644358)
Featured Stories
- Beware of MCP Hardcoded Credentials: A Perfect Target for Threat ActorsPoor secret management in MCP servers can lead to serious consequences, including data breaches and supply chain attacks. This article examines the reality of these unsecure configurations and offers practical recommendations that minimize the chances of exposure.Read more
- Lessons in Resilience from the Race to Patch SharePoint VulnerabilitiesIn this article, Trend Micro discusses how the fast-moving attacks using CVE-2025-53770 and CVE-2025-53771 have underscored the essential role of virtual patching and reliable intelligence in protecting organizations against evolving threats.Read more
- Unveiling AI Agent Vulnerabilities Part V: Securing LLM ServicesTo conclude our series on agentic AI, this article examines emerging vulnerabilities that threaten AI agents, focusing on providing proactive security recommendations on areas such as code execution, data exfiltration, and database access.Read more
- Unveiling AI Agent Vulnerabilities Part IV: Database Access VulnerabilitiesHow can attackers exploit weaknesses in database-enabled AI agents? This research explores how SQL generation vulnerabilities, stored prompt injection, and vector store poisoning can be weaponized by attackers for fraudulent activities.Read more