CVE-2008-0081
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitUnspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3 through 2003 SP2, Viewer 2003, and Office 2004 for Mac allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted macros, aka "Macro Validation Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-3490.
Published Jan 16, 2008 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2008-0081 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Excel (Microsoft), Excel Viewer (Microsoft), Office (Microsoft).
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since Oct 1, 2008. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 58% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
58%
Higher than 99.0% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
1 catalog listing
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
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Description
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3 through 2003 SP2, Viewer 2003, and Office 2004 for Mac allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted macros, aka "Macro Validation Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-3490.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry KEV feed | Oct 1, 2008 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Affected Products
5 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ExcelMicrosoft | 2000-sp3, 2002-sp3, 2003-sp2 | n/a |
| Excel ViewerMicrosoft | 2003 | n/a |
| OfficeMicrosoft | 2004 | n/a |
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Jan 16, 2008
Added to Industry KEV feed
Oct 1, 2008
Last updated
Apr 22, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-908 Use of Uninitialized Resource
References
- advisory28506
- advisory1019200
- advisorymicrosoft-excel-unspecified-code-execution(39699)
- advisoryTA08-071A
- advisoryADV-2008-0146
FAQ
Common Questions.
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3 through 2003 SP2, Viewer 2003, and Office 2004 for Mac allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted macros, aka "Macro Validation Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-3490.
Affected: Excel (Microsoft) versions 2000-sp3, 2002-sp3, 2003-sp2; Excel Viewer (Microsoft) versions 2003; Office (Microsoft) versions 2004. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since Oct 1, 2008.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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