CVE-2021-42292 Microsoft Office: 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 Dec 1, 2021
What to do
- Install Microsoft's security update for Office. 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 Excel Security Feature Bypass
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- CISA description
- A security feature bypass vulnerability in Microsoft Excel would allow a local user to perform arbitrary code execution.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-357)
- Confirmed exploited
- Nov 17, 2021
- US federal patch deadline
- Dec 1, 2021
Ask Cleus about it
Ask about a vulnerability, an update, a weird message, or the news. Plain-word answers, free, no account.
Answering about CVE-2021-42292 ·
Questions about CVE-2021-42292
Is CVE-2021-42292 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-42292 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Nov 17, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2021-42292?
Install Microsoft's security update for Office. 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-2021-42292?
Only if you use Microsoft Office. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.