# CVE-2019-1297: Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-1297-microsoft-excel-remote-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2019-1297 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-03

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker could exploit this to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user.

Technologies: [Microsoft Excel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/excel). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2019-1297 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2019-1297 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2019-1297?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 3 March 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2; Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1; Microsoft Excel 2016; Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac; and 3 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2019-1297?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2019-1297 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2019-1297?** Check whether you run Microsoft Excel. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac
- Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus

## Timeline

- 2019-09-11: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2022-03-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-03-17: other: CISA Due Date for remediation

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Excel heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120786-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-excel-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Excel untrusted pointer dereference code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118723-untrusted-pointer-dereference-in-microsoft-office-excel-allows)
- [Microsoft Excel stack-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118717-stack-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-excel-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Excel heap-based buffer overflow in spreadsheet parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118714-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-excel-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Excel heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116927-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-office-excel-allows-an)
