CVE-2026-97775

Summary

A use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Office Excel allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This flaw occurs when the application frees memory that's still being referenced, potentially leading to code execution through crafted Excel files.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires a user to open a malicious Excel file, making it moderately difficult but achievable through social engineering or phishing campaigns.

Blast radius

If exploited, this vulnerability could affect millions of Office users across Windows and Mac platforms, potentially leading to full system compromise and data exfiltration.

Detection

No reliable host or network indicator is derivable from the published description.

Prioritized remediation

Deploy Microsoft Security Update KB5043289 for Office 2021 and Office 2024, or upgrade to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise version 2407 or later.

Analysis generated locally by garnet-coder (no data left the box). AI-assisted — verify against primary sources before acting.