How severe is CVE-2016-7262?

CVE-2016-7262 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-7262 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-7262 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2022-03-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-7262?

CVE-2016-7262 primarily affects Microsoft Excel. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-7262?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.

Does CVE-2016-7262 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2016-7262 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2016-8118. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2022-03-03).

When was CVE-2016-7262 published?

CVE-2016-7262 was published on 2016-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-7262

CVE-2016-7262 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Excel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2022-03-03).

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 6.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 58% (99th percentile)
Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-03-03)
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2016-8118
EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2022-03-03)
Affected product: Microsoft Excel
Published: 2016-12-20
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel 2013 SP1, Excel 2013 RT SP1, Excel 2016, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted cell that is mishandled upon a click, aka "Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-7262?: Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel 2013 SP1, Excel 2013 RT SP1, Excel 2016, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted cell that is mishandled upon a click, aka "Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability."
How severe is CVE-2016-7262?: CVE-2016-7262 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-7262 being actively exploited?: Yes. CVE-2016-7262 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2022-03-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-7262?: CVE-2016-7262 primarily affects Microsoft Excel. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-7262?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
Does CVE-2016-7262 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2016-7262 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2016-8118. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2022-03-03).
When was CVE-2016-7262 published?: CVE-2016-7262 was published on 2016-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (7)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2007:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2010:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel_viewer:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_compatibility_pack:-:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel

CVE-2008-0081 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000 SP3 through 2003 SP2, Viewer 2003, and Office 2004 for Mac allows…
CVE-2015-6177 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary…
CVE-2015-6122 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel for Mac 2011, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow…
CVE-2015-6040 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel for Mac 2011, Excel 2016 for Mac, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and…
CVE-2015-6094 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Microsoft Excel 2010 SP2, Excel 2013 SP1, Excel 2013 RT SP1, Excel 2016, Excel for Mac 2011, Excel 2016 for Mac, and…
CVE-2015-6038 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel 2013 SP1, Excel 2013 RT SP1, Excel 2016, Excel for Mac 2011, Excel 2016…

All CVEs affecting Microsoft Excel →