CVE-2016-7262 Microsoft Excel: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Mar 24, 2022
What to do
- Install Microsoft's security update for Excel. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Turn on automatic updates for the operating system and for Office, PDF and archive apps.
- Be careful with unexpected attachments — documents, .zip/.rar files and shortcuts are common bait.
- Use a normal (non-admin) account day to day and keep built-in protection like Microsoft Defender on.
Who is affected
Could reach you. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.
What's at risk: Your files, saved passwords and accounts. Many of these let a program that is already running gain full administrator control.
The details
- Official name
- Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- CISA description
- A security feature bypass vulnerability exists when Microsoft Office improperly handles input. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute arbitrary commands.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-20)
- Confirmed exploited
- Mar 3, 2022
- US federal patch deadline
- Mar 24, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2016-7262 ·
Questions about CVE-2016-7262
Is CVE-2016-7262 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2016-7262 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 3, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2016-7262?
Install Microsoft's security update for Excel. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Turn on automatic updates for the operating system and for Office, PDF and archive apps.
Am I affected by CVE-2016-7262?
Only if you use Microsoft Excel. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.