CVE-2023-7101 — Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

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

01What is this vulnerability?

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…

02Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
Douglas Wilson	Spreadsheet::ParseExcel	0.65

03Active exploitation status

Yes — actively exploited. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2024-01-02. Ransomware use: Unknown.

04Recommended remediation

• Patch to a fixed version listed in the vendor advisory (see references below).
• Mitigate with WAF rules, network egress filters, or feature flags where the patch is not yet available.
• Hunt historical logs for exploitation indicators — see Detection signatures below.

05Technical details

For the full vendor write-up, exploit chains, and reference implementations, see the references list in section 09.

06Detection signatures

Open the Sigma generator with a pre-filled prompt for this CVE to draft a starting detection in your stack of choice:

Open in Sigma generator →

07Related CVEs

No directly-cited follow-up CVEs in the KB record for this advisory. The references list in section 09 carries the vendor cross-references.

08Timeline

• Published: 2023-12-24T21:34:46.527Z
• Last modified: 2025-10-21T23:05:29.481Z
• Added to CISA KEV: 2024-01-02
• BOD 22-01 due: 2024-01-23

09References

• github.com — https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023…
• https: — https://https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101
• https: — https://https://metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcel
• https: — https://https://github.com/haile01/perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_poc
• github.com — https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150c…
• www.openwall.com — http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/29/4
• lists.debian.org — https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html
• https: — https://https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/commit/bd3159277e745…
• lists.fedoraproject.org — https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]…
• lists.fedoraproject.org — https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]…
• security.metacpan.org — https://security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.…