---
id: "CVE-2023-7101"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-7101"]
title: "Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 is a Perl module used for parsing Excel files"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Spreadsheet::ParseExcel", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "jmcnamara spreadsheet\\", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 0.65", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "debian linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 10.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "fedoraproject fedora", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 38", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "fedoraproject fedora", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 39", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "package", "perl", "spreadsheet-parseexcel"]
not_affected_if: ["does-not-parse-untrusted-xls-files"]
published_at: "2023-12-24T22:15:07+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-7101", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7101", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 is a Perl module used for parsing Excel files

Spreadsheet::ParseExcel is a Perl module for reading Excel files. A crafted Excel file makes it pass unvalidated input into a string eval, so an attacker can run arbitrary code in the process that parses the file.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Spreadsheet::ParseExcel affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:jmcnamara spreadsheet\ affected <= 0.65 fixed ?
- vendor:debian linux affected = 10.0 fixed ?
- vendor:fedoraproject fedora affected = 38 fixed ?
- vendor:fedoraproject fedora affected = 39 fixed ?

## Fix

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, or stop using Spreadsheet::ParseExcel if no mitigation is available (per CISA required action). Fixed version: unknown.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-7101
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7101

## From the sources

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.

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