Arbitrary code execution via number-format string eval
Published Dec 24, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Eval injection in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel 0.65 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted Excel file. ExcelFmt in Utility.pm appends an unvalidated conditional number-format string to a numeric value and passes the resulting expression to Perl string eval. Exploitation requires an application or user to parse an attacker-controlled workbook, and the injected code runs with that parsing process's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Eval injection in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel 0.65 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted Excel file. ExcelFmt in Utility.pm appends an unvalidated conditional number-format string to a numeric value and passes the resulting expression to Perl string eval. Exploitation requires an application or user to parse an attacker-controlled workbook, and the injected code runs with that parsing process's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-7101
- Published
- Dec 24, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Debian
- Product
- Debian GNU/Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-95, CWE-94, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 24, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 2, 2024Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entry for CVE-2023-7101
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=10
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_pocproof of concept · demonstrated
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Reported exploitation
- UNC4841 exploitation of Spreadsheet::ParseExcelthreat actor
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entry for CVE-2023-7101known exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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