CVE-2008-3471

What it is

Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP2 and SP3, and 2007 Gold and SP1; Office Excel Viewer 2003 SP3; Office Excel Viewer; Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Gold and SP1; Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac; and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a BIFF file with a malformed record that triggers a user-influenced size calculation, aka "File Format Parsing Vulnerability."

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

52.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS). Higher than most.

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2008-08-04 00:00 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2. 2008-10-15 00:12 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
3. 2026-06-16 22:55 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 52.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 9.3 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
• It meets the bar for Drop everything: critical, and exploited or very likely to be.

Details

Published

2008-10-15 00:12 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-16 22:55 UTC

Exploit probability

52.3% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds write

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Microsoft Excel 2003
• Microsoft Excel 2007
• Microsoft Excel Viewer
• Microsoft Excel Viewer 2003
• Microsoft Office 2004
• Microsoft Office 2008
• Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack 2007
• Microsoft Open Xml File Format Converter

Attack profile CVSS 2.0 · 9.3

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Medium

Authentication

None

Confidentiality

Complete

Integrity

Complete

Availability

Complete

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2008-3471.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2008-3471. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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