{"cveID":"CVE-2023-7101","vendorProject":"Spreadsheet::ParseExcel","product":"Spreadsheet::ParseExcel","vulnerabilityName":"Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","dateAdded":"2024-01-02","shortDescription":"Spreadsheet::ParseExcel contains a remote code execution 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 within the Excel parsing logic.","requiredAction":"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.","dueDate":"2024-01-23","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown","notes":"This vulnerability affects a common open-source component, third-party library, or a protocol used by different products. Please check with specific vendors for information on patching status. For more information, please see: https://metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcel and Barracuda's specific implementation and fix for their downstream issue CVE-2023-7102 at https://www.barracuda.com/company/legal/esg-vulnerability;  https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7101","cwes":["CWE-95"],"year":2023,"state":"mapped","stale_reasons":[],"mappings":[{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2023-7101","technique":"T1190","technique_name_at_mapping":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","mapping_type":"exploitation_technique","capability_group":"code_execution","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by a remote attacker by 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. After successful exploitation, the attacker gains the ability to perform remote code execution. This vulnerability has been targeted by Chinese hackers who exploited the vulnerability in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel to compromise appliances. In collaboration with cybersecurity firm Mandiant, Barracuda assesses that the threat actor behind the attacks is UNC4841, who leveraged the flaw to deploy ‘SeaSpy’ and ‘Saltwater’ malware.","references":["https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/barracuda-fixes-new-esg-zero-day-exploited-by-chinese-hackers/","https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-warns-of-actively-exploited-bugs-in-chrome-and-excel-parsing-library/","https://socradar.io/latest-zero-day-vulnerabilities-unc4841-targets-barracuda-esg-with-cve-2023-7102-apache-ofbiz-authentication-bypass-cve-2023-51467/"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"},{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2023-7101","technique":"T1059","technique_name_at_mapping":"Command and Scripting Interpreter","mapping_type":"primary_impact","capability_group":"code_execution","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by a remote attacker by 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. After successful exploitation, the attacker gains the ability to perform remote code execution. This vulnerability has been targeted by Chinese hackers who exploited the vulnerability in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel to compromise appliances. In collaboration with cybersecurity firm Mandiant, Barracuda assesses that the threat actor behind the attacks is UNC4841, who leveraged the flaw to deploy ‘SeaSpy’ and ‘Saltwater’ malware.","references":["https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/barracuda-fixes-new-esg-zero-day-exploited-by-chinese-hackers/","https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-warns-of-actively-exploited-bugs-in-chrome-and-excel-parsing-library/","https://socradar.io/latest-zero-day-vulnerabilities-unc4841-targets-barracuda-esg-with-cve-2023-7102-apache-ofbiz-authentication-bypass-cve-2023-51467/"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"},{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2023-7101","technique":"T1105","technique_name_at_mapping":"Ingress Tool Transfer","mapping_type":"secondary_impact","capability_group":"code_execution","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by a remote attacker by 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. After successful exploitation, the attacker gains the ability to perform remote code execution. This vulnerability has been targeted by Chinese hackers who exploited the vulnerability in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel to compromise appliances. In collaboration with cybersecurity firm Mandiant, Barracuda assesses that the threat actor behind the attacks is UNC4841, who leveraged the flaw to deploy ‘SeaSpy’ and ‘Saltwater’ malware.","references":["https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/barracuda-fixes-new-esg-zero-day-exploited-by-chinese-hackers/","https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-warns-of-actively-exploited-bugs-in-chrome-and-excel-parsing-library/","https://socradar.io/latest-zero-day-vulnerabilities-unc4841-targets-barracuda-esg-with-cve-2023-7102-apache-ofbiz-authentication-bypass-cve-2023-51467/"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1059","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Command and Scripting Interpreter","name_at_mapping":"Command and Scripting Interpreter","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["primary_impact"],"sigma_rule_count":95,"has_detection_strategy":true},{"id":"T1105","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Ingress Tool Transfer","name_at_mapping":"Ingress Tool Transfer","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["secondary_impact"],"sigma_rule_count":87,"has_detection_strategy":true},{"id":"T1190","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","name_at_mapping":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique"],"sigma_rule_count":149,"has_detection_strategy":true}],"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique","primary_impact","secondary_impact"],"has_exploitation_technique":true,"mapping_attack_versions":["16.1"],"mapping_domains":["enterprise"],"sigma_coverage":"full","sigma_rules_tagged_cve":[],"added_after_mapping_snapshot":false,"_source":"kevmap","_built":"2026-08-24 19:45 UTC","_attack_version":"19.2"}