Code execution via heap-based buffer overflow
Published Aug 12, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code on an affected system when a user opens a crafted workbook. Microsoft has disclosed only that Excel performs an out-of-bounds write in heap memory; no affected parser, record type, or function is public. Exploitation requires user interaction and can execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the affected Excel process.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel allows attackers to execute code on an affected system when a user opens a crafted workbook. Microsoft has disclosed only that Excel performs an out-of-bounds write in heap memory; no affected parser, record type, or function is public. Exploitation requires user interaction and can execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the affected Excel process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-53741
- Published
- Aug 12, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
- Classifications
- CWE-787, CWE-122, T1204.002, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 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.
- Affected versionversion=16.0.0 <16.100.25081015
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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