PhpSpreadsheet allows unauthorized Reflected XSS in the constructor of the Downloader class
Unauthorized Reflected XSS in the constructor of the Downloader class
Product: Phpspreadsheet
Version: version 3.6.0
CWE-ID: CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CVSS vector v.3.1: 8.2 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N)
CVSS vector v.4.0: 8.3 (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:L/SI:H/SA:L)
Description: using the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/download.php script, an attacker can perform a XSS-type attack
Impact: execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser
Vulnerable component: the constructor of the Downloader class
Exploitation conditions: an unauthorized user
Mitigation: sanitization of the name and type variables
Researcher: Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Research
The researcher discovered zero-day vulnerability Unauthorized Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (in the constructor of the Downloader class) in Phpspreadsheet.
The latest version (3.6.0) of the phpoffice/phpspreadsheet library was installed. The installation was carried out with the inclusion of examples.
Listing 1. Installing the phpoffice/phpspreadsheet library
$ composer require phpoffice/phpspreadsheet --prefer-sourceThe ./vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/download.php file processes the GET parameters name and type.
Figure 1. The ./vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/download.php file accepts GET parameters.
Consider the constructor of the Downloader class, where GET parameters are passed. Error is displayed without sanitization using GET parameters transmitted from the user.
Figure 2. Error is displayed without sanitization
When clicking on the following link, arbitrary JavaScript code will be executed.
Listing 2.
https://192.***.***.***/vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/download.php?name=%3Cimg%20src=1%20onerror=alert()%3E&type=1Demonstration of the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code.
<img width="537" alt="fig3" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/745d6e21-396f-4357-8ff8-e856adf15fee" />Figure 3. Executing arbitrary JavaScript code
Credit
This vulnerability was discovered by Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer package | phpoffice/phpexcel | <= 1.8.2 | no fix |
| Composer package | phpoffice/phpspreadsheet | >= 3.0.0, < 3.7.0, < 1.29.7, >= 2.0.0, < 2.1.6, >= 2.2.0, < 2.3.5 | 3.7.0, 1.29.7, 2.1.6, 2.3.5 |
References
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/security/advisories/GHSA-jmpx-686v-c3wx
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-56365
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/commit/700a80346be269af668914172bc6f4521982d0b4#diff-fbb0f53a5c68eeeffaa9ab35552c0b01740396f1a4045af5d2935ec2a62a7816
- https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-79- Platform
- Composer
- Package
phpoffice/phpexcel, phpoffice/phpspreadsheet- Disclosed
- 03.01.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jmpx-686v-c3wx - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: phpoffice/phpexcel
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 23
- First → latest
- 11.2019 02.2025
- Without a fix
- 20
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 12
- Medium 10
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 10
- 2025: 9
- 2026: 0
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PhpSpreadsheet allows unauthorized Reflected XSS in the constructor of the Downloader class this entry
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