No longer able to digitally sign VBA code in Excel 2016

Anonymous
2017-05-01T19:09:15+00:00

Hello all! 

I have a DigiCert issued code signing certificate that I have been able to use from January 2017 up until two weeks ago (about the time of the Creator's Update for Windows 10 Pro). The Cert is valid through 2020. Unfortunately, I when I try to sign VBA code with it now, I get the error message "There was a problem with the digital certificate. The VBA project could not be signed. The signature will be discarded.

Is anyone else getting this message when signing VBA code with a Cert that previously worked?

I was able to test on a co-worker’s computer running

OS: Windows 7 Pro SP1

Office: Office 365 ProPlus Ver 1701 (build 7766.2076).

I was able to successfully sign a macro file on this machine.

My computer is running

OS: Windows 10 Pro version 1703 (build 15063.250)

Office: Office 365 Ver 1701 (Build 7967.2139)

I am not able to successfully sign a macro file on my machine. I am able to successfully import the certificate though.

DigiCert of course blames the issue on Microsoft, and given that I can successfully sign on my co-worker's Windows 7 machine with a slightly older build of Office 365, I wonder if something  in the newer version of Office 365 broke the ability to sign VBA macros.

Thanks - Nate

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Anonymous
2017-08-03T18:12:15+00:00

Hi StephenGibb,

My re-installation must have missed the August updates you mention by a whisker. I forced an update just now, 1707 Build 8326.2062 is now my version. And, thankfully, it works!

Some extra info about when the problem was occurring for anyone else who might come across this thread:

As well as the failure to sign a project, Office was silently disabling all signed macros, not just those in the locations I mentioned above.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-07T11:02:52+00:00

    I have the exact same problem, but then with signing a PowerPoint VBA project.

    I use:

    Windows 10 Pro

    Version 1511

    Build 10586.962

    Office 2016 (365)

    Version 1706 (Build 8229.2073).

    Best regards,

    Veronica

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-07T10:40:22+00:00

    In order to test the possibility that the issue may be a result of the update not getting applied properly I have done the following:

    1. Created a brand new VM running W10 v1703 (Build 15063.413) from an ISO created by the Media Creation Tool.
    2. Installed O365 via the Get Office app. This installed v1706 (Build 8229.2073).
    3. Started Word and waited for the usual prompts to appear. Accepted updates and set default file format to OOXML.
    4. Closed Word.
    5. Ran SelfCert to create a new certificate.
    6. Started Word and created a new blank document.
    7. Added a code module containing a HelloWord routine.
    8. Saved the document in docm format.
    9. Applied the digital signature to the project and resaved - boom!

    So the issue is still occurring even with a clean install, which matches all of my previous results.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-07T08:45:10+00:00

    The method that I have been using when testing is as follows:

    1. Create new document / presentation / workbook.
    2. Add a code module with a simple HelloWorld routine
    3. Apply digital signature to the project - either using one generated with SelfCert or one newly issued by Symantec
    4. Close VBE
    5. Save file as appropriate macro enabled file type - the error appears during save

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-07-07T07:29:05+00:00

    Hi Bryan

    Here is what I have learned so far.

    1. The issue does not seem to be present when O365 is pre-installed (drawn from what I know of working installs on 3 different laptops, and non-working installs on a laptop and two VM’s).
    2. O365 when installed from an online source (the Get Office app, the Office portal or using the ProPlus Install Toolkit) onto a new Win10 VM has the issues.
    3. Using the Office ProPlus Install Toolkit I have gone back through the various builds and have confirmed that v1701 (Build 7766.2060) is the last version that worked. v1702 (Build 7870.2020) is where the issue started and no subsequent version has reliably fixed this.
    4. I have seen the same thing described in the reply from EtanRellim - install v1705 and it works until O365 syncs settings with my account (evidenced by the change in the Theme from the default to my preferred Black).

    So far MS Support has been unable to reproduce the issue.

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