CVE-2009-0238 Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a crafted Excel document, affecting Microsoft Office Excel and viewers.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 14 Apr 2026
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2009-0238?
CVE-2009-0238 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Excel, published on 25 Feb 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Microsoft Office Excel 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP1; Excel Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3; Excel Viewer; Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP1; and Excel in Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Excel document that triggers an access attempt on an invalid object, as exploited in the wild in February 2009 by Trojan.Mdropper.AC.
Weakness: CWE-94
Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-0238?
It affects 5 products.
Products include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Viewer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack, Microsoft Office Excel Viewer.
How do I fix CVE-2009-0238?
No fix has been published for CVE-2009-0238 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 28 Apr 2026.
Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.
Is CVE-2009-0238 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2009-0238 in the wild since at least 14 Apr 2026.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel
Sources
Also known as GHSA-qw7j-w352-g8m7.