CVE-2021-40479 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability was published on October 13, 2021, affecting various Microsoft Office versions.

Understanding CVE-2021-40479

This CVE involves a Remote Code Execution vulnerability in Microsoft Excel impacting multiple Microsoft Office products.

What is CVE-2021-40479?

CVE ID: CVE-2021-40479
Published Date: October 13, 2021
Vendor: Microsoft
Affected Products: Microsoft Office 2019, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Microsoft Office LTSC 2021, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2013 SP1
Severity: High (CVSS Base Score: 7.8)
Vulnerability Type: Remote Code Execution
CVE Details: CVE-2021-40479 Details

The Impact of CVE-2021-40479

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute code remotely, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40479

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Type: Remote Code Execution
Base Severity: High (CVSS Score: 7.8)
Vector String: 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

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Office 2019 (Version 19.0.0)
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Version 16.0.1)
Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 (Version 16.0.1)
Microsoft Office 2016 (Version 16.0.0)
Microsoft Office 2013 SP1 (Version 15.0.0)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code remotely on the affected Microsoft Excel installations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-40479 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches released by Microsoft immediately.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploits.
Educate users about phishing attacks and the importance of verifying email attachments.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Microsoft Office products to the latest versions.
Enforce the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights.
Utilize endpoint protection solutions to detect and prevent malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security updates for affected products. Ensure timely installation of these patches to protect the systems.