Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2023-7101
The short answer
CVE-2023-7101 affects Douglas Wilson Spreadsheet::ParseExcel and is rated high (CVSS 7.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-01-02: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 is a Perl module used for parsing Excel files. Spreadsheet::ParseExcel is vulnerable to an arbitrary code execution (ACE) vulnerability due to passing unvalidated input from a file into a string-type “eval”. Specifically, the issue stems from the evaluation of Number format strings (not to be confused with printf-style format strings) within the Excel parsing logic.
Severity
7.8 high
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Jan 2, 2024
Federal due date Jan 23, 2024
EPSS, next 30 days
19%
Higher than 97% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected products
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel, spreadsheet\, debian_linux, fedora. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pm#L171 Product
- github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md Third Party Advisory
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html Mailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFEHKULQRVXHIV7XXK2RGD4VQN6Y4CV5/ Broken LinkMailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M2FIWDHRYTAAQLGM6AFOZVM7AFZ4H2ZR/ Broken LinkMailing List
- security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html Third Party Advisory
- github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pm#L171 Product
- github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md Third Party Advisory
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html Mailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFEHKULQRVXHIV7XXK2RGD4VQN6Y4CV5/ Broken LinkMailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M2FIWDHRYTAAQLGM6AFOZVM7AFZ4H2ZR/ Broken LinkMailing List
- security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html Third Party Advisory
Questions
Is CVE-2023-7101 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-7101 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-01-02, with a federal remediation due date of 2024-01-23.
How do I fix CVE-2023-7101?
CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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Spreadsheet::ParseExcel exploited vulnerabilities
Everything CISA lists as exploited for Spreadsheet::ParseExcel.
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