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Phpspreadsheet CVE-2024-45046

MEDIUM
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79)
2024-08-28 security-advisories@github.com
5.4
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding, context-aware escaping
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 5.4 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Sanitize all user input, use Content-Security-Policy headers, encode output contextually (HTML, JS, URL). Use frameworks with built-in XSS protection.

Affected Packages

composer phpoffice/phpexcel no fix
composer phpoffice/phpspreadsheet fix: 1.29.1, 2.1.0

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 2 packages in composer

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79), which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. In affected versions \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html doesn't sanitize spreadsheet styling information such as font names, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript on the page. As a result an attacker may used a crafted spreadsheet to fully takeover a session of a user viewing spreadsheet files as HTML. This issue has been addressed in release version 2.1.0. All users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. Affected products include: Phpoffice Phpspreadsheet. Version information: version 2.1.0..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 5.4 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. In affected versions \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html doesn't sanitize spreadsheet styling information such as font names, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript on the page. As a result an attacker may used a crafted spreadsheet to fully takeover a session of a user viewing spreadsheet files as HTML. This issue has been addressed in release version 2.1.0. All users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 68% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.4%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

47
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +27
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:phpoffice:phpspreadsheet:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:phpoffice:phpspreadsheet:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2024-45291 HIGH POC
8.8 Oct 07

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vul

CVE-2019-12331 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 07

PHPOffice PhpSpreadsheet before 1.8.0 has an XXE issue. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely e

CVE-2018-19277 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 14

securityScan() in PHPOffice PhpSpreadsheet through 1.5.0 allows a bypass of protection mechanisms for XXE via UTF-7 enco

CVE-2024-48917 HIGH POC
7.5 Nov 18

PhpSpreadsheet is a PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerab

CVE-2024-47873 HIGH POC
7.5 Nov 18

PhpSpreadsheet is a PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerab

CVE-2024-45290 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 07

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vul

CVE-2024-45293 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 07

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vul

CVE-2024-45048 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Aug 28

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this v

CVE-2020-7776 MEDIUM POC
6.4 Dec 09

This affects the package phpoffice/phpspreadsheet from 0.0.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.4), this vulnerability is re

CVE-2024-45060 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Oct 07

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this v

CVE-2024-45292 MEDIUM POC
5.4 Oct 07

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this v

CVE-2026-108357 HIGH
8.8 Oct 22

PhpSpreadsheet's SpreadsheetML reader (Reader\Xml) can be induced to pass a DOCTYPE/ENTITY block into SimpleXML despite

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