How severe is CVE-2021-42292?

CVE-2021-42292 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-2021-42292 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2021-11-17, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-42292?

CVE-2021-42292 primarily affects Microsoft 365 Apps. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-42292?

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-2021-42292 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2021-29267. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2021-11-17).

When was CVE-2021-42292 published?

CVE-2021-42292 was published on 2021-11-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-42292

CVE-2021-42292 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps 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 2021-11-17).

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 6.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 32% (98th percentile)
Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2021-11-17)
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2021-29267
EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2021-11-17)
Affected product: Microsoft 365 Apps
Published: 2021-11-10
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-42292?: Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
How severe is CVE-2021-42292?: CVE-2021-42292 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-2021-42292 being actively exploited?: Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2021-11-17, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-42292?: CVE-2021-42292 primarily affects Microsoft 365 Apps. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-42292?: 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-2021-42292 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2021-42292 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2021-29267. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2021-11-17).
When was CVE-2021-42292 published?: CVE-2021-42292 was published on 2021-11-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (10)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:365_apps:-:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:excel:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:-:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2013:sp1:*:*:rt:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2019:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_long_term_servicing_channel:2021:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office_long_term_servicing_channel:2021:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*

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