CVE-2024-45291: phpspreadsheet Path Traversal — Exploit

Description

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. It's possible for an attacker to construct an XLSX file that links images from arbitrary paths. When embedding images has been enabled in HTML writer with `$writer->setEmbedImages(true);` those files will be included in the output as `data:` URLs, regardless of the file's type. Also URLs can be used for embedding, resulting in a Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerability. When embedding images has been enabled, an attacker can read arbitrary files on the server and perform arbitrary HTTP GET requests. Note that any PHP protocol wrappers can be used, meaning that if for example the `expect://` wrapper is enabled, also remote code execution is possible. This issue has been addressed in release versions 1.29.2, 2.1.1, and 2.3.0. All users are advised to upgrade. there are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-36 CWE-36

CWE-918 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

CWE-22 Path Traversal

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
phpoffice	phpspreadsheet	< 1.29.2
phpoffice	phpspreadsheet	2.0.0 — 2.1.1
phpoffice	phpspreadsheet	2.2.0 — 2.3.0

References

Exploits

https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/security/advisories/GHSA-w9xv-qf98-ccq4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-45291? +

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. It's possible for an attacker to construct an XLSX file that links images from arbitrary paths. When embedding images has been enabled in HTML writer with `$writer->setEmbedImages(true);` those files will be included in the output as `data:` URLs, regardless of the file's type. Also URLs can be used for embedding, resulting in a Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerability. When embedding images has been enabled, an attacker can read arbitrary files on the server and perform arbitrary HTTP GET requests. Note that any PHP protocol wrappers can be used, meaning that if for example the `expect://` wrapper is enabled, also remote code execution is possible. This issue has been addressed in release versions 1.29.2, 2.1.1, and 2.3.0. All users are advised to upgrade. there are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.3 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2024-45291? +

CVE-2024-45291 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.3 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-45291? +

CVE-2024-45291 affects products from phpoffice, specifically: phpspreadsheet. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2024-45291? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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