Microsoft Excel for Mac RCE Vulnerability CVE-2026-81950 – Update Required

What Happened

Microsoft identified a remote code execution vulnerability (CVE‑2026‑81950) in Microsoft Excel for Mac. The flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted spreadsheet.

Impact

All current releases of Excel for Mac are vulnerable until the security update is applied. The vulnerability can be triggered by a malicious file, potentially giving attackers full system compromise. Other Microsoft Office products (Windows, iOS, Android) are not affected.

Mitigation

Install the latest Office for Mac update immediately. The patch is available through the standard update channel and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Security Update Guide. Verify the update by checking the Office version number or the update history.

Additional Notes

Defenders should monitor for exploitation attempts and block suspicious Office files from untrusted sources. No additional configuration changes are required beyond applying the update.