Software Engineering Institute

Microsoft Excel fails to properly handle malformed Column records. When an Excel file is opened, Excel does not properly perform data validation on the Column record. An attacker could send a specially crafted Column record in the Excel file that, when opened, could corrupt system memory allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code. The attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

An attacker could gain complete control of the affected system and execute arbitrary code.

Microsoft addresses this vulnerability with the updates listed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-002.

Note that Microsoft has re-released the updates in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-002 for Excel 2000. See the Microsoft Security Response Center blog for more information.

Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.