CVE-2025-21381

Code execution via untrusted pointer dereference

Published Feb 11, 2025 · Updated Feb 13, 2026

Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted workbook. Microsoft has not disclosed the affected parser, function, or how workbook data becomes a pointer that Excel dereferences. Exploitation requires user interaction, and successful execution runs attacker-controlled code in the user's security context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted workbook. Microsoft has not disclosed the affected parser, function, or how workbook data becomes a pointer that Excel dereferences. Exploitation requires user interaction, and successful execution runs attacker-controlled code in the user's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-21381
Published
Feb 11, 2025
Updated
Feb 13, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
Classifications
CWE-822, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2026Record 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=16.0.0 <16.94.25020927

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024version=16.0.0 <16.94.25020927
Microsoft · Microsoft Office 2019version=19.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft Excel 2016version=16.0.0.0 <16.0.5487.1000
Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021version=16.0.1 <16.94.25020927
Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC 2021version=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Microsoft Office LTSC 2024version=16.0.0 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft · Office Online Serverversion=16.0.0.0 <16.0.10416.20058
Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for enterpriseversion=16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-822Untrusted Pointer Dereference
T1204.002Malicious 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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