# CVE-2021-42292: Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-42292-microsoft-excel-security-feature-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-17. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-42292 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-17

A security feature bypass vulnerability in Microsoft Excel allows for arbitrary code execution. The flaw requires a user to open a specially crafted file, bypassing security restrictions to execute malicious code on the local system.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-42292 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 17 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-42292?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 17 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1; Microsoft Excel 2016; Microsoft Excel 2019; Microsoft Office LTSC 2021; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-42292?** A patch was published on 2021-11-17: Vendor advisory and patch information published Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-42292 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-42292?** Check whether you run Microsoft Office. 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 2013 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Microsoft Excel 2019
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

## Timeline

- 2021-11-09: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2021-11-17: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-17: patched: Vendor advisory and patch information published
- 2021-11-17: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild

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