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CVE-2021-42292

Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass

7.8 HIGHActively exploited (CISA KEV)EPSS 43.0%
  1. Published10 Nov 2021
  2. Added to CISA KEV17 Nov 2021
  3. Remediation due1 Dec 2021
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

A security feature bypass vulnerability in Microsoft Excel would allow a local user to perform arbitrary code execution.

Added to KEV: 17 Nov 2021Federal remediation due: 1 Dec 2021

Description

Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorLocal
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredNone
User interactionRequired
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Microsoft 365 Appsall versions
Microsoft Excel2013 · 2016
Microsoft Office2013 · 2019
Microsoft Office 2016all versions
Microsoft Office 2019all versions
Microsoft Office 2021all versions

Remediation

No fixed version is recorded in the NVD data. Check the vendor advisory for the latest guidance.

References

Frequently asked

Is CVE-2021-42292 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 17 Nov 2021.

How severe is CVE-2021-42292?

CVE-2021-42292 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated high. EPSS estimates a 43.0% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2021-42292?

Affected products include Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2019, and 1 more.

How do I fix CVE-2021-42292?

Apply the vendor's patch or advisory guidance, then verify no affected versions remain across your devices.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-42292 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, a risk for it never ranks below high, and the update that fixes it moves to the Emergency patch lane. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.