CVE-2009-0238
What it is
Microsoft Office Excel 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP1; Excel Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3; Excel Viewer; Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP1; and Excel in Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Excel document that triggers an access attempt on an invalid object, as exploited in the wild in February 2009 by Trojan.Mdropper.AC.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network without logging in, but needs a user to act. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- In the wild
- CISA lists this as exploited in real attacks. Treat as urgent.
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- 2026-04-14 Exploited in the wildAdded to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- 2026-04-28 Remediation deadlineCISA's due date for federal agencies to fix it
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: yes, CISA lists it. This puts it above everything that is not.
- Exploit odds: 42.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 8.8 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-04-14
- Exploit probability
- 42.9% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-94 · Code injection
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Microsoft Excel 2000
- Microsoft Excel 2002
- Microsoft Excel 2003
- Microsoft Excel 2007
- Microsoft Excel Viewer
- Microsoft Office 2004
- Microsoft Office 2008
- Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack 2007
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 8.8
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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-2009-0238.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2009-0238. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009
References
- http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2658
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=5923
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1021744
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33870
- http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-022310-4202-99
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1023
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/48875
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5968
- http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2658
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=5923
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1021744
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33870
- http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-022310-4202-99
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1023
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/48875
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5968
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-0238