Used in attacks· fix by 2022-03-24Not scored yet
Microsoft Excel
CVE-2009-3129
Microsoft Office Excel allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a spreadsheet with a FEATHEADER record containing an invalid cbHdrData size element that affects a pointer offset.
What this means for your business
- It affects Microsoft Excel. It matters if your company, or a supplier that handles your data, runs it.
- Attackers are already using it. CISA added it to its list of flaws used in real attacks on 3 March 2022.
- FIRST's prediction model gives it a 86% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 99% of all known flaws.
What to do
- 1Check whether your company or your suppliers run Microsoft Excel.
- 2If you do, follow CISA's required action below. No patch reference has been published yet.
- 3Treat it as urgent. US federal agencies must fix it by 24 March 2022. That deadline does not apply to private companies, but it shows how seriously CISA takes it.
- 4Because attackers have used it, check the affected systems for signs of a break-in, not only for the update.
Not sure if your company is exposed?
Fastnexa’s certified penetration testers can check whether attackers could use this flaw, or others like it, against your websites, apps and network. The full test is free for our first 10 founding clients until 31 December 2026.
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA’s wording, unedited.
Scoring
- CVSS
- Not yet scored
Dates
- Published
- 2022-03-03
- Added to KEV
- 2022-03-03
- Remediation due
- 2022-03-24
- Sources
- CISA KEV