CVE-2008-0111: Microsoft Excel Data Validation Record Code Execution

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 20 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityCVSS 2.0 base score 9.3 and a 98.9th percentile EPSS score indicate severe impact and high modeled exploitation likelihood, though the record lacks KEV listing or confirmed in-the-wild reports.

What it is

Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3 through 2007, Excel Viewer 2003, the Office Compatibility Pack, and Office 2004 for Mac contain an unspecified vulnerability in the handling of crafted data validation records. Opening a maliciously crafted Excel file can corrupt memory and allow arbitrary code execution in the context of the user. The flaw is remotely reachable but requires the victim to open the file, making it a classic user-assisted client-side attack.

Impact

An attacker who convinces a user to open a crafted spreadsheet can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of that user, leading to full compromise of the workstation. Because the CVSS vector shows complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, the attacker can read, modify, or destroy data and install further malware.

Attack surface

The vector AV:N/AC:M/Au:N indicates network delivery of the malicious file with no authentication required, but the AC:M rating and the description's 'user-assisted' wording mean the victim must open the crafted document. No server-side or pre-auth access is involved; the attack is delivered as an email attachment, web download, or shared file.

Exploitation

CVE-2008-0111 is not listed in CISA KEV and has no ransomware associations in the record, but EPSS is 0.50862 (98.9th percentile), indicating a high modeled probability of exploitation activity. Reference tags include Patch and US Government Resource, and no public exploit or in-the-wild confirmation is provided in the record.

What to do

• Apply Microsoft security bulletin MS08-014 (or the corresponding vendor update) to Excel 2000 SP3, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, Excel 2007, Excel Viewer 2003, the Office Compatibility Pack, and Office 2004 for Mac.
• Block or strip legacy Excel attachments (.xls, .xla, .xlt) at email and web gateways where business use permits.
• Enable Microsoft Office File Block and Protected View settings to prevent untrusted spreadsheets from loading active content.
• Run Office with least privilege and consider Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (MOICE) for opening untrusted legacy files.
• Educate users not to open unexpected spreadsheets from external senders.

Detection

• Monitor for Excel processes (excel.exe) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or wscript.exe, which is abnormal for normal spreadsheet use.
• Alert on Office applications writing executables or scripts to user-writable directories or startup folders after opening a document.
• Search endpoint telemetry for Excel opening files from email attachment caches, temporary internet files, or download directories followed by process creation.
• Use the OVAL definition oval:org.mitre.oval:def:5114 to scan for missing MS08-014 patches on affected Office installations.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.