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

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-7101?

spreadsheet\: upgrade to newer than 0.65; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2023-7101 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-7101 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2023-7101 affect?

CVE-2023-7101 affects spreadsheet\, debian linux, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). 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 “ev

Q: How urgent is CVE-2023-7101?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Patch now

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-7101 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting spreadsheet\, debian linux, fedora, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	19.0% (top 3%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2024-01-23
Weakness	CWE-95, CWE-94
Published	2023-12-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Mandiant Inc. · Vendor: debian · fedoraproject · jmcnamara

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-12-24 22:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2024-01-02Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2024-01-23Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 06:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

jmcnamara spreadsheet\ UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.65

Fixed in: newer than 0.65

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy spreadsheet || rpm -q spreadsheet || spreadsheet --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.65 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade spreadsheet

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade spreadsheet

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 38 · 39

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 38

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · libmamba · FIXED · 2.10.0-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-cc57be9e65 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-cc57be9e65

Fedora 46 · rubygem-selenium-webdriver · FIXED · 4.34.0-5.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-111c6e6363 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-111c6e6363

Ubuntu 20.04 · libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl · FIXED · 0.6500-1ubuntu0.20.04.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl)" ge "0.6500-1ubuntu0.20.04.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 22.04 · libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl · FIXED · 0.6500-1.1ubuntu0.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl)" ge "0.6500-1.1ubuntu0.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 24.04 · libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl · NOT AFFECTED

Debian 12 · libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl · FIXED · 0.6500-4~deb12u1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl)" ge "0.6500-4~deb12u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl · FIXED · 0.6500-4

Alpine 3.20 · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel · FIXED · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel-0.66-r0

apk add --upgrade perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel apk info -v perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel

Alpine 3.21 · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel · FIXED · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel-0.66-r0

apk add --upgrade perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel apk info -v perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel

Alpine 3.22 · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel · FIXED · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel-0.66-r0

apk add --upgrade perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel apk info -v perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel

Alpine 3.23 · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel · FIXED · perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel-0.66-r0

apk add --upgrade perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel apk info -v perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel

Amazon Linux 2023 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2023-2024-491 · source

sudo dnf update --advisory=ALAS2023-2024-491

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2024-1905 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2024-1905

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md
Write-up: https://github.com/haile01/perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_poc
Write-up: security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html
Metasploit: Barracuda ESG Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Arbitrary Code Execution

Advisories and coverage

Official advisories

IPA Japan Security Alerts: 更新：Barracuda 製 Email Security Gateway Appliance (ESG) の脆弱性について(CVE-2023-7102)(CVE-2023-7101) 2024-01-04

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-7101?

spreadsheet\: upgrade to newer than 0.65; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-7101 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-7101 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2023-7101 affect?

CVE-2023-7101 affects spreadsheet\, debian linux, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). 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 “ev

How urgent is CVE-2023-7101?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · Perl vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2024-23525 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE The Spreadsheet::ParseXLSX package before 0.30 for Perl allows XXE attacks because it neglects to use the no_x
CVE-2024-22368 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE The Spreadsheet::ParseXLSX package before 0.28 for Perl can encounter an out-of-memory condition during parsin

References

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