PhpSpreadsheet: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
CVE-2024-48917 is a high-severity improper restriction of XML external entity reference vulnerability in PhpSpreadsheet from PHPOffice, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 1.29.4, 2.1.3, 2.3.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating PhpSpreadsheet to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.73% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update PhpSpreadsheet to 1.29.4 or 2.1.3 or 2.3.2 or 3.4.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHPOffice | PhpSpreadsheet | < 1.29.4; >= 2.0.0, < 2.1.3; >= 2.2.0, < 2.3.2; >= 3.3.0, < 3.4.0; before 1.29.4; 2.0.0 up to, but not including, 2.1.3; 2.2.0 up to, but not including, 2.3.2; 3.3.0 up to, but not including, 3.4.0 | 1.29.4, 2.1.3, 2.3.2, 3.4.0 |
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
PhpSpreadsheet is a PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. The `XmlScanner` class has a scan method which should prevent XXE attacks. However, in a bypass of the previously reported `CVE-2024-47873`, the regexes from the `findCharSet` method, which is used for determining the current encoding can be bypassed by using a payload in the encoding UTF-7, and adding at end of the file a comment with the value `encoding="UTF-8"` with `"`, which is matched by the first regex, so that `encoding='UTF-7'` with single quotes `'` in the XML header is not matched by the second regex. An attacker can bypass the sanitizer and achieve an XML external entity attack. Versions 1.9.4, 2.1.3, 2.3.2, and 3.4.0 fix the issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Many XML parsers and validators can be configured to disable external entity expansion.
More Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerabilities (CWE-611)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in PhpSpreadsheet
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
Recent Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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