Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessAuthenticate as low-privilege Syncope user
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DeliveryInject formula payload into own user attribute
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ExploitAwait administrator CSV export action
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ExecutionAdmin opens CSV in spreadsheet application
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PersistSpreadsheet evaluates injected formula
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ImpactExfiltrate admin-context data or execute commands on admin workstation
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding for downstream
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires three concurrent conditions: (1) an authenticated Syncope user account with at least low privilege (PR:L) - specifically the ability to write to one or more plain string attributes on their own user object, which is default behavior for enrolled users; (2) a Syncope administrator or privileged operator who subsequently performs a CSV export that includes the attacker's user record and opens the resulting file in a spreadsheet application that evaluates formulas on file open (UI:R); and (3) the spreadsheet application must not have formula execution disabled, Protected View active, or equivalent safeguards enabled. There is no requirement for a non-default Syncope server configuration - the CSV export function is a standard administrative capability. Exploitation is entirely bounded by the human interaction requirement: the attacker cannot remotely trigger formula execution and has no visibility into when or whether an export will occur. |
| Impact | The vendor-assigned CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N) correctly reflects the network-accessible, low-privilege nature and mandatory human interaction, but the use of S:U (Unchanged scope) is debatable: the formula executes inside a different component - the spreadsheet application on an admin workstation - which technically implies S:C (Changed), a distinction that would raise the base score. EPSS data is absent from available intelligence, so probabilistic exploitation probability cannot be stated quantitatively. SSVC classifies exploitation as 'none', not automatable, with total technical impact on the targeted system - the 'total' impact rating reflects that successful formula execution on an admin's machine can fully compromise that host. The attack is not in CISA KEV, and no POC code has been identified. Real-world risk is meaningfully reduced by the UI:R constraint: the attacker cannot trigger execution server-side and must wait for an administrator to both export and open the CSV file. The most realistic threat model involves a malicious insider, a compromised low-privilege credential, or a social-engineering scenario targeting an administrator's routine export workflow. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An authenticated Syncope user with only self-service access sets their display name or a custom string attribute to a crafted payload such as |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 15, 2026
CSV formula injection in Apache Syncope allows authenticated low-privilege users to embed spreadsheet formula payloads in their own user attributes. When an administrator exports users to CSV and opens the file in a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, the stored formula is evaluated in the spreadsheet's execution context - enabling data exfiltration from the spreadsheet or arbitrary command execution on the administrator's workstation. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and SSVC classifies exploitation status as none and not automatable.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patches are available: upgrade to Apache Syncope 4.0.8 or 4.1.3 as directed by the Apache security advisory at https://lists.apache.org/thread/lg1opo92y789v259folgvmg6n28l42cj. No fixed version for the 3.0.x branch is listed in available data; organizations still on 3.0.x should plan migration to a patched 4.x release. For deployments where immediate upgrade is not feasible, administrators should restrict access to the CSV export feature to the minimum necessary personnel, and configure spreadsheet applications to open external CSV files in Protected View (Excel) or with macro and formula execution disabled (LibreOffice: Tools > Macro Security). These application-level controls prevent formula evaluation without disrupting the ability to review exported data. Note that restricting export access limits operational self-service workflows and should be evaluated against business requirements.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
Apache Syncope is an open-source Java-based Identity Management (IDM) platform used in enterprise environments for user provisioning, governance, and lifecycle management. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output): when generating CSV exports, Syncope fails to prefix or sanitize user attribute values that begin with formula-initiating characters recognized by spreadsheet applications (=, +, -, @, tab, carriage return). This omission violates the OWASP CSV injection defence, which requires such values to be escaped - typically by prepending a single quote or wrapping in a formula-suppressing sequence. The vulnerable CPE is cpe:2.3:a:apache_software_foundation:apache_syncope covering all releases from 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.7, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2. Because formula execution occurs within the spreadsheet application on the opening user's machine rather than on the Syncope server, the attack crosses a component boundary.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
S:C reflects formula execution occurring in the spreadsheet application (a separate component from Syncope); PR:L requires an authenticated account; UI:R mandates admin interaction to open the exported file.
Primary rating from Vendor (apache).
CVSS VectorVendor: apache
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output vulnerability in Apache Syncope.
Authenticated users can store a spreadsheet formula payload in one of their own plain attributes. When such users are included in a CSV export and the generated CSV file is opened by a spreadsheet application, the formula may be executed.
This issue affects Apache Syncope: from 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, from 4.0.0-M0 Through 4.0.7, from 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.0.8 / 4.1.3, which fix this issue.
Executive ViewAI
Apache Syncope identity platforms contain a privilege escalation weakness allowing low-privilege employees to inject malicious payloads into data exports that execute when administrators process the files. Successful exploitation compromises administrator workstations, creating a vector for unauthorized system access and data theft. No vendor patch is currently available, requiring organizations to implement immediate protective controls.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations include: (1) restrict CSV export permission to senior administrative staff only and require approval workflow for exports; (2) enforce spreadsheet application settings to disable automatic formula calculation by default across the organization; (3) educate administrators to open CSV files with formula calculation explicitly disabled and to reject suspicious files; (4) deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitoring on administrator workstations to detect anomalous process execution following file access; (5) implement monitoring of Apache Syncope user attribute modification events, alerting on payloads containing formula injection indicators (cell prefix characters: =, +, -, @, or leading whitespace).
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
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EUVD-2026-77475
GHSA-3gg5-c8gj-frxr
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB