PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2026-55899 Microsoft CVE debrief
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Excel, which could allow an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally. The CVE record was published on 2026-07-14T17:17:09.443Z and has not been modified since then. This type of vulnerability occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it is designed to hold, causing the extra data to spill over into adjacent areas of memory. Users of Microsoft Office Excel, particularly those in environments where Excel is used extensively, should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it. To address this vulnerability, it is essential to apply the patch provided by Microsoft and ensure that Microsoft Office Excel is up to date.
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
- CVSS
- HIGH 7.8
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2026-07-14
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-07-16
- Advisory published
- 2026-07-14
- Advisory updated
- 2026-07-16
Who should care
Users of Microsoft Office Excel, particularly those in environments where Excel is used extensively, should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it. This includes applying the patch provided by Microsoft, ensuring that Microsoft Office Excel is up to date, and implementing compensating controls, such as restricting access to sensitive areas of the network.
Technical summary
The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel. This type of vulnerability occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it is designed to hold, causing the extra data to spill over into adjacent areas of memory. In this case, an unauthorized attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute code locally. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office Excel and has a CVSS score of 7.8 and a severity of HIGH.
Defensive priority
High
Recommended defensive actions
- Apply the patch provided by Microsoft
- Ensure that Microsoft Office Excel is up to date
- Implement compensating controls, such as restricting access to sensitive areas of the network
- Monitor for suspicious activity
- Perform regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Evidence notes
The CVE record was published on 2026-07-14T17:17:09.443Z and has not been modified since then. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and a severity of HIGH. The evidence is based on the CVE record and NVD entry, which provide limited information about the vulnerability. Further verification is needed to confirm the affected scope and severity.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
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CVE-2026-55899 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-55899
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
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CVE-2026-55899 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55899
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Supplemental references
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Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-55899
[email protected] - Patch, Vendor Advisory
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.