CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-1539NVD status: Modified

Exports and Reports: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-1539 is a high-severity improper neutralization of formula elements in a CSV file vulnerability in Exports and Reports, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 0.9.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating Exports and Reports to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.5% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 75% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Exports and Reports to 0.9.2 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Exports and ReportsExports and Reports0.9.2 up to, but not including, 0.9.20.9.2

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Official description

The Exports and Reports WordPress plugin before 0.9.2 does not sanitize and validate data when generating the CSV to export, which could lead to a CSV injection, by the use of Microsoft Excel DDE function, or to leak data via maliciously injected hyperlinks.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File

The product saves user-provided information into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • When generating CSV output, ensure that formula-sensitive metacharacters are effectively escaped or removed from all data before storage in the resultant CSV. Risky characters include '=' (equal), '+' (plus), '-' (minus), and '@' (at).
  • If a field starts with a formula character, prepend it with a ' (single apostrophe), which prevents Excel from executing the formula.
  • Certain implementations of spreadsheet software might disallow formulas from executing if the file is untrusted, or if the file is not authored by the current user.

More Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File vulnerabilities (CWE-1236)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)

Recent Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File vulnerabilities

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