CVE-2025-21381CriticalCVSS 7.8

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published
June 3, 2026
Last Modified
—

🔗 CVE IDs covered (1)

CVE-2025-21381 →

📋 Description

According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is local (AV:L). Why does the CVE title indicate that this is a remote code execution? The word Remote in the title refers to the location of the attacker. This type of exploit is sometimes referred to as Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE). The attack itself is carried out locally. For example, when the score indicates that the Attack Vector is Local and User Interaction is Required, this could describe an exploit in which an attacker, through social engineering, convinces a victim to download and open a specially crafted file from a website which leads to a local attack on their computer.

Is the Preview Pane an attack vector for this vulnerability? Yes, the Preview Pane is an attack vector.

🎯 Affected products13

  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 32-bit Systems
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for 64-bit Systems
  • Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit edition)
  • Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit edition)
  • Microsoft Office 2019 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office 2019 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 32-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for 64-bit editions
  • Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021
  • Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024
  • Office Online Server

✅ Remediation

KB5002679 (Security Update) — fixed build 16.0.10416.20058 KBClick to Run (Security Update) — fixed build https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases KBRelease Notes (Security Update) — fixed build 16.94.25020927 KB5002687 (Security Update) — fixed build 16.0.5487.1000

🔗 References (8)