# CVE-2023-7101: Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) Vulnerability

> CVE-2023-7101: Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) Vulnerability. CVSS 7.8 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-7101
Last updated: 2025-10-21T23:05:29Z

- Published: 2023-12-24 21:34 UTC · Updated: 2025-10-21 23:05 UTC · Assigner: Mandiant
- CVSS: 7.8 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: High · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS: 19.0%, 97th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2024-01-02, federal due date 2024-01-23, ransomware use: Unknown
- CWE: CWE-95

## Description

Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 is a Perl module used for parsing Excel files. Spreadsheet::ParseExcel is vulnerable to an arbitrary code execution (ACE) vulnerability due to passing unvalidated input from a file into a string-type “eval”. Specifically, the issue stems from the evaluation of Number format strings (not to be confused with printf-style format strings) within the Excel parsing logic.

## CISA required action

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

## Affected vendors and products

- debian: debian\_linux
- Douglas Wilson: Spreadsheet::ParseExcel
- fedoraproject: fedora
- jmcnamara: spreadsheet\\

## References

- [CVE record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101)
- [NVD entry](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7101)
- [https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pm\#L171](https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pm#L171)
- [https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md](https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md)
- [https://https://github.com/haile01/perl\_spreadsheet\_excel\_rce\_poc](https://https://github.com/haile01/perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_poc)
- [https://https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/commit/bd3159277e745468e2c553417b35d5d7dc7405bc](https://https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/commit/bd3159277e745468e2c553417b35d5d7dc7405bc)
- [https://https://metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcel](https://https://metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcel)
- [https://https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101](https://https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101)
- [https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html)
- [https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFEHKULQRVXHIV7XXK2RGD4VQN6Y4CV5/](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFEHKULQRVXHIV7XXK2RGD4VQN6Y4CV5/)
- [https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M2FIWDHRYTAAQLGM6AFOZVM7AFZ4H2ZR/](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M2FIWDHRYTAAQLGM6AFOZVM7AFZ4H2ZR/)
- [https://security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html](https://security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/29/4](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/29/4)

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_Sources: CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (https://www.cve.org/) This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (https://nvd.nist.gov/) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (https://www.first.org/epss/)_


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Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-7101 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-7101.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2023-7101 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T02:05:13.565Z