CVE-2026-78518 Microsoft Office Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

High 8.8 Published Updated

An out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Excel allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious file.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
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-2026-78518?

CVE-2026-78518 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps, published on 8 Sep 2026. 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

Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Weakness: CWE-20, CWE-125

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-78518?

It affects 7 products.

Products include Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2019, Microsoft Office 2021 and 1 more.

How do I fix CVE-2026-78518?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-78518 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2026-78518 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-78518 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Microsoft 365 Apps vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-96qx-7xj2-vx4x.

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