CVE-2023-7101
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel contains a remote code execution vulnerability due to passing unvalidated input from a file into a string-type “eval”. Specifically, the issue stems from the evaluation of Number format strings within the Excel parsing logic.
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 is a Perl module used for parsing Excel files. Spreadsheet::ParseExcel is vulnerable to an arbitrary code execution (ACE) vulnerability due to passing unvalidated input from a file into a string-type “eval”. Specifically, the issue stems from the evaluation of Number format strings (not to be confused with printf-style format strings) within the Excel parsing logic.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/29/4Mailing ListPatch
- github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pmProduct
- github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.mdThird Party Advisory
- https//github.com/haile01/perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_pocBroken LinkThird Party Advisory
- https//github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/commit/bd3159277e745468e2c553417b35d5d7dc7405bcBroken LinkPatch
- https//metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcelBroken LinkProduct
- https//www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.htmlMailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFEHKULQRVXHIV7XXK2RGD4VQN6Y4CV5/Broken LinkMailing List
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M2FIWDHRYTAAQLGM6AFOZVM7AFZ4H2ZR/Broken LinkMailing List
- security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.htmlThird Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-7101US Government Resource
Actively exploited. Patch immediately.
- Exploitation
- Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Federal remediation deadline
- Overdue by 1007 days
- CVSS
- 7.8 HIGH
- EPSS (30-day exploit probability)
- 19.0% · top 3% of all CVEs
- Weakness
- CWE-95
- 1.Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- 2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
- 3.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.
Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.