# CVE-2021-1714: Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a specially crafted Excel file, requiring immediate patching.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fw2f-g736-mgj9

## What is CVE-2021-1714?

CVE-2021-1714 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps, published on 12 Jan 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1714?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Services, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Online Server, Microsoft Office Web Apps Server, Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1714?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1714 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-1714 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1714 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft 365 Apps

- [CVE-2024-21413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21413/): Microsoft Outlook Improper Input Validation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-23397](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23397/): Microsoft Office Outlook Privilege Escalation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-38189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38189/): Microsoft Project Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-35311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35311/): Microsoft Outlook Security Feature Bypass (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-21514](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-21514/): Microsoft Office Word Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-1714 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1714 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps, published on 12 Jan 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1714 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft 365 Apps. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1714/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1714/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1714
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1714
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1714

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1714/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.