PhpSpreadsheet has an Unauthenticated Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) in sample file
Summary
One of the sample scripts in PhpSpreadsheet is susceptible to a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to improper handling of input where a number is expected leading to formula injection.
Details
The following code in 45_Quadratic_equation_solver.php concatenates the user supplied parameters directly into spreadsheet formulas. This allows an attacker to take control over the formula and output unsanitized data into the page, resulting in JavaScript execution.
$discriminantFormula = '=POWER(' . $_POST['B'] . ',2) - (4 * ' . $_POST['A'] . ' * ' . $_POST['C'] . ')';
$discriminant = Calculation::getInstance()->calculateFormula($discriminantFormula);
$r1Formula = '=IMDIV(IMSUM(-' . $_POST['B'] . ',IMSQRT(' . $discriminant . ')),2 * ' . $_POST['A'] . ')';
$r2Formula = '=IF(' . $discriminant . '=0,"Only one root",IMDIV(IMSUB(-' . $_POST['B'] . ',IMSQRT(' . $discriminant . ')),2 * ' . $_POST['A'] . '))';PoC
- Access
45_Quadratic_equation_solver.phpin a browser - Enter any valid values for for
bandc, and enter the following fora
1) & ("1)),1)&char(60)&char(105)&char(109)&char(103)&char(32)&char(115)&char(114)&char(99)&char(61)&char(120)&char(32)&char(111)&char(110)&char(101)&char(114)&char(114)&char(111)&char(114)&char(61)&char(97)&char(108)&char(101)&char(114)&char(116)&char(40)&char(41)&char(62)&POWER(((1") &n("1")&(1- Press submit and observe that JavaScript is executed.
Impact
The impact of this vulnerability on the project is expected to be relatively low since these are sample files that should not be included when the library is used properly (e.g., through composer). However, at least two instances of popular WordPress plugins have unintentionally exposed this file by including the entire git repository. Since these files also serve as reference points for developers using the library, addressing this issue can enhance security for users.
A solution to fix the vulnerability is proposed below, and a request for a CVE assignment has been made to facilitate responsible disclosure of the security issue to the affected WordPress plugins.
Remediation
A quick and easy solution to prevent this attack is to force the parameters to be numerical values:
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
$_POST['A'] = floatval($_POST['A']);
$_POST['B'] = floatval($_POST['B']);
$_POST['C'] = floatval($_POST['C']);
if ($_POST['A'] == 0) {Thank you for your time!
Betroffene Software
Klicken Sie auf eine Technologie, um alle zugehörigen Schwachstellen anzuzeigen.
| Plattform | Paket | Anfällige Versionen | Behoben in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer-Paket | phpoffice/phpexcel | <= 1.8.2 | keine Korrektur |
| Composer-Paket | phpoffice/phpspreadsheet | >= 2.2.0, < 2.3.0, < 1.29.2, >= 2.0.0, < 2.1.1 | 2.3.0, 1.29.2, 2.1.1 |
Verweise
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/security/advisories/GHSA-v66g-p9x6-v98p
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-45060
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/commit/3990173db1207767139e63d33783beafada57007
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/commit/bc74f3aa1d76f191c6c7c3631e286abb25c38759
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/commit/fb42a103f14cfce258c836b31f4a71f1fb1a9747
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/blob/d50b8b5de7e30439fb57eae7df9ea90e79fa0f2d/samples/Basic/45_Quadratic_equation_solver.php#L56
- CVSS-Vektor
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N- Schwäche (CWE)
CWE-79- Plattform
- Composer
- Paket
phpoffice/phpexcel, phpoffice/phpspreadsheet- Veröffentlicht
- 07.10.2024
- Aktualisiert
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Quellen und Lizenzen
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-v66g-p9x6-v98p - CC BY 4.0
Schwachstellenhistorie: phpoffice/phpexcel
Alle veröffentlichten Schwachstellen dieses Pakets (Composer-Paket), neueste zuerst. Zeigt, ob es ein einmaliger Ausrutscher ist oder ein Paket, das man im Auge behalten muss.
- Einträge insgesamt
- 23
- Erste → letzte
- 11.2019 02.2025
- Ohne Fix
- 20
- In Angriffen ausgenutzt
- 0
Verteilung nach Schweregrad
- Hoch 12
- Mittel 10
- Niedrig 1
Veröffentlichungen pro Jahr
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 10
- 2025: 9
- 2026: 0
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PhpSpreadsheet has an Unauthenticated Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) in sample file dieser Eintrag
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