# KB5002098: December 2021 security update

KB5002098, released December 14, 2021, fixes 1 CVE across 2 products. None of them is reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/fix/microsoft/kb5002098
- Platform: Microsoft
- Released: Dec 14, 2021
- Priority: High (Closes CVE-2021-43256, high severity)
- CVEs: 1, exploited: 0, on CISA KEV: 0
- Vendor advisory: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5002098

## Applies to

| Product | Release | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| [Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit edition)](https://patchblox.com/security/data/product/microsoft/microsoft-excel-2016-32-bit-edition.md) |  |  |
| [Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit edition)](https://patchblox.com/security/data/product/microsoft/microsoft-excel-2016-64-bit-edition.md) |  |  |

## CVEs this fix closes

| CVE | Priority | Component | CVSS | EPSS | Exploitation |
|---|---|---|---:|---:|---|
| [CVE-2021-43256](https://patchblox.com/security/data/cve/CVE-2021-43256.md) | High | Microsoft Office Excel | 7.8 | 0.0218 |  |

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Data as of 2026-11-07T06:34:28Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo