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.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Wilson | Spreadsheet::ParseExcel | 0.65 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-4~deb12u1 | DSA-5592-1 |
| Debian 11 | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1.1+deb11u1 | DSA-5592-1 |
| Debian 10 | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1+deb10u1 | DLA-3702-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1.1ubuntu0.1 | USN-6781-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1ubuntu0.20.04.1 | USN-6781-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1ubuntu0.18.04.1~esm1 | USN-6781-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.6500-1ubuntu0.16.04.1~esm1 | USN-6781-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl | 0.5800-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6781-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLE Real Time 15 SP4 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.660.0-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:13558-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.65-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | perl-spreadsheet-parseexcel | 0.66-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel | 0.6500-28.amzn2023.0.3 | ALAS2023-2024-491 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Barracuda ESG Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Arbitrary Code Execution
exploit/linux/smtp/barracuda_esg_spreadsheet_rce
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- USN-6781-1 libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- DSA-5592-1 libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-3702-1 libspreadsheet-parseexcel-perl - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13558-1 perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel-0.660.0-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:0158-1 Security update for perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-3213 Perl: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 6, 2025
- ALAS2023-2024-491 Important: perl-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jan 22, 2024
References
- https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2023/MNDT-2023-0019.md
- https://https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7101
- https://https://metacpan.org/dist/Spreadsheet-ParseExcel
- https://https://github.com/haile01/perl_spreadsheet_excel_rce_poc
- https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/blob/c7298592e102a375d43150cd002feed806557c15/lib/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel/Utility.pm#L171
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/29/4
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00025.html
- https://https://github.com/jmcnamara/spreadsheet-parseexcel/commit/bd3159277e745468e2c553417b35d5d7dc7405bc
- 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://security.metacpan.org/2024/02/10/vulnerable-spreadsheet-parsing-modules.html