Title: Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Data Password Protection Bypass Vulnerability
Severity: MODERATE
Description:
Microsoft Excel contains various security features to prevent users from modifying the contents or even accessing a document.
An issue has been reported in one of Excel's security implementations which could enable a user to bypass password protected data in a document. Thus, enabling a user to potentially modify the contents of an excel file.
This is achievable if a user does a copy all, and pastes the data into a new excel spreadsheet. Upon the data being pasted in the new spreadsheet, all of the formulas used will be exposed and susceptible to manipulation.
A user might do this in order to input his/her own chosen data, once the modifications are done, the user could re-password protect the objects and replace the original document.
Affected Products:
- Microsoft Excel 2000
- Microsoft Excel 2002
- Microsoft Excel 97 0.0.0
- Microsoft Excel 97 0.0.0SR1
- Microsoft Excel 97 0.0.0SR2
- Microsoft Office 2000
- Microsoft Office 97 0.0.0
- Microsoft Office XP
References:
- Network World, Inc: Excel's dirty little secret
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