CVE-2024-38170

Code execution via crafted workbook heap overflow

Published Aug 13, 2024 · Updated Jul 10, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted workbook in an affected Office release. Microsoft identifies the weakness but has not disclosed the affected parser or the incorrect size or bounds operation on workbook data. Exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious file and runs code in the user's security context, enabling data access and modification without a reported availability impact.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted workbook in an affected Office release. Microsoft identifies the weakness but has not disclosed the affected parser or the incorrect size or bounds operation on workbook data. Exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious file and runs code in the user's security context, enabling data access and modification without a reported availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38170
Published
Aug 13, 2024
Updated
Jul 10, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021
Classifications
CWE-122, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 10, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=16.0.1 <16.88.24081116

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021version=16.0.1 <16.88.24081116
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Published CVSS scores

7.1Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.2Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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