CVE-2024-9102

phpLDAPadmin: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements

Published Dec 19, 2024 CVSS 4.0 · 5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
phpLDAPadmin since at least version 1.2.0 through the latest version 1.2.6.7 allows users to export elements from the LDAP directory into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. Thus, this could lead to CSV Formula Injection. NOTE: This vulnerability will not be addressed, the maintainer's position is that it is not the intention of phpLDAPadmin to control what data Administrators can put in their LDAP database, nor filter it on export.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

It is recommended that control characters at the beginning of character strings in cells are filtered before CSV export in order to avoid formula injection. As such functions always start with one of the following characters, these can be filtered specifically: - Equal (=) - Plus (+) - Minus (-) - At (@) - Tab (0x09) - Carriage return (0x0D) When filtering these special characters, care should be taken to ensure that not only the special characters in the first position are removed (for example in +-@=cmd|' /C calc.exe'!'A1'). Instead, all leading special characters up to the first legitimate character should be removed. As an alternative to the above-mentioned filtering, OWASP suggests also another sanitization method which includes three steps ( https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/CSV_Injection ).


Vendor Workaround

It is advised that the Office settings in clients are configured in such a way that Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is disabled.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2024-50429 phpLDAPadmin since at least version 1.2.0 through the latest version 1.2.6.7 allows users to export elements from the LDAP directory into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. Thus, this could lead to CSV Formula Injection. NOTE: This vulnerability will not be addressed, the maintainer's position is that it is not the intention of phpLDAPadmin to control what data Administrators can put in their LDAP database, nor filter it on export.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.0022}

epss

{'score': 0.00252}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description phpLDAPadmin since at least version 1.2.0 through the latest version 1.2.6.7 allows users to export elements from the LDAP directory into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. Thus, this could lead to CSV Formula Injection. phpLDAPadmin since at least version 1.2.0 through the latest version 1.2.6.7 allows users to export elements from the LDAP directory into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. Thus, this could lead to CSV Formula Injection. NOTE: This vulnerability will not be addressed, the maintainer's position is that it is not the intention of phpLDAPadmin to control what data Administrators can put in their LDAP database, nor filter it on export.
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description phpLDAPadmin since at least version 1.2.0 through the latest version 1.2.6.7 allows users to export elements from the LDAP directory into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. Thus, this could lead to CSV Formula Injection.
Title phpLDAPadmin: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements
Weaknesses CWE-1236
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L'}

Subscriptions

No data.

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
NCSC.ch
Published
Updated
Apr 16, 2025, 11:41 AM
Reserved
Sep 23, 2024, 1:40 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Dec 19, 2024, 2:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 8:23 AM