RCE in Microsoft Excel Viewer
CVE-2019-0541
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the MSHTML engine inproperly validates input, aka "MSHTML Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Word Viewer, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Excel Viewer, Internet Explorer 10, Office 365 ProPlus.
Vulnerability class: Command Injection (OS Command Injection)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.532 (99.0th percentile), scored .
High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 99th percentile — 99.0% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.532 · newest: 0.532 · change: 0.000
Affected products
- Microsoft Excel Viewer — versions 2007
- Microsoft Internet Explorer — versions 11, 9, 10
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 — versions Windows Server 2012
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 — versions Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems, Windows 10 for x64-based Systems, Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 — versions Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Excel Viewer — versions 2007 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Office — versions 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions), 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions), 2013 RT Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Office Word Viewer — versions Microsoft Office Word Viewer
- Microsoft Office — versions 2013, 365 ProPlus for 32-bit Systems, 365 ProPlus for 64-bit Systems
- Microsoft Office 365 Proplus
Weakness classification (CWE)
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on . CISA KEV inclusion means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; US federal agencies are required to remediate within a published due date.
BOD 22-01 due date: .
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0541 (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46536/ (Exploit, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, exploit)
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/106402 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry, Broken Link)
- 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 (US Government Resource)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2019-0541?
- CVE-2019-0541 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Excel Viewer, classified under Command Injection. CVSS score: 8.8/10. Published 2019-01-08.
- How severe is CVE-2019-0541?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2019-0541 known to be exploited?
- Yes. CVE-2019-0541 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), indicating it is being actively exploited. 6 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.