CVE-2009-0238: Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2009-0238 is a high (CVSS 9.3) Code Injection vulnerability in Microsoft Office. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 14-04-2026. EPSS estimates a 42.94% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 98.7% of scored vulnerabilities.
Timeline
- 25-02-2009PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 14-04-2026Added to CISA KEVMicrosoft Office Remote Code Execution
- 15-04-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
- 28-04-2026CISA remediation dueApply mitigations per vendor instructions.
Description
Microsoft Office Excel 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP1; Excel Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3; Excel Viewer; Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP1; and Excel in Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Excel document that triggers an access attempt on an invalid object, as exploited in the wild in February 2009 by Trojan.Mdropper.AC.
CVSS metrics
3 scores · 2 sources · 2 versions- NVDNIST8.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
42.94%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
99%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
-0.27 pp
From 43.21% on 19-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVListed- Added
- 14-04-2026
- Federal due date
- 28-04-2026
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009 nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-0238
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Microsoft4 products
- excel2000:sp3 | 2002:sp3 | 2003:sp3 | 2007:sp1
- office2004 | 2008
- office_compatibility_pack2007:sp1
- office_excel_viewer2003:sp3
1 vendor · 4 products
References
12 links
- www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.htmlThird Party AdvisoryX Refsource CERTUS Government Resource
- www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-022310-4202-99X Refsource MISCBroken Link
- docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-009Vendor AdvisoryX Refsource MS
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5968VDB EntrySignatureX Refsource OVALBroken Link
Show all 12 references
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-0238Government ResourceUS Government Resource