medium CVSS 6.3 EPSS 0.80%

CVE-2024-45291·PHP vulnerability

PHPSpreadsheet is a pure PHP library for reading and writing spreadsheet files. It's possible for an attacker to construct an XLSX file that links images from arbitrary paths. When embedding images has been enabled in HTML writer with `$writer->setEmbedImages(true);` those files will be included in the output as `data:` URLs, regardless of the file's type. Also URLs can be used for embedding, resulting in a Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerability. When embedding images has been enabled, an attacker can read arbitrary files on the server and perform arbitrary HTTP GET requests. Note that any PHP protocol wrappers can be used, meaning that if for example the `expect://` wrapper is enabled, also remote code execution is possible. This issue has been addressed in release versions 1.29.2, 2.1.1, and 2.3.0. All users are advised to upgrade. there are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Severity
medium
Software
PHP
Fixed in
2.3.0
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.80% — higher than 53% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Affected versions

From: 2.2.0

Until: 2.3.0

Fixed in: 2.3.0

How to fix this CVE

PHPSpreadsheet versions 2.2.0 through 2.3.0 contain a critical image embedding vulnerability that allows attackers to read arbitrary files and perform server-side request forgery attacks when image embedding is enabled in the HTML writer. Upgrade to PHPSpreadsheet 2.3.0 or later, and audit your application to ensure image embedding is only enabled when necessary with strict validation of image sources.

sudo dnf update php-spreadsheet

Defensia detects this vulnerability

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Implement input validation on file uploads to reject XLSX files with suspicious image link attributes that reference file:// or other protocol wrappers. Block HTTP requests to internal IP ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16) and loopback addresses originating from spreadsheet processing logic.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Run 'php -r "require 'vendor/autoload.php'; echo \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet::VERSION;"' to check the installed PHPSpreadsheet version
  2. Search your application source code for setEmbedImages(true) calls to identify if image embedding is explicitly enabled in HTML writers
  3. Review access logs for suspicious XLSX file uploads followed by GET requests to unusual file paths or protocol schemes (file://, php://, expect://)
  4. Verify the PHPSpreadsheet package version is 2.3.0 or later by checking composer.lock or running the version detection command above

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-45291?

CVE-2024-45291 is a vulnerability in PHPSpreadsheet that allows attackers to craft malicious XLSX files with image references pointing to arbitrary file paths. When HTML export with image embedding is enabled, these files are read server-side and leaked as embedded data, or external URLs are fetched via SSRF, potentially enabling remote code execution through PHP protocol wrappers.

Is CVE-2024-45291 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-45291 is not listed on the CISA KEV catalog and no public exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is trivial to exploit and organizations should prioritize patching.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2024-45291?

This vulnerability affects PHPSpreadsheet versions 2.2.0 through 2.3.0. Versions 1.29.2, 2.1.1, and 2.3.0 or later contain fixes.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-45291?

Run 'composer show phpoffice/phpspreadsheet' to display the installed version. If it reports 2.2.0 through 2.3.0-beta versions, your server is vulnerable. Additionally, grep your codebase for setEmbedImages(true) to confirm the vulnerable code path is active.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-45291?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PHPSpreadsheet is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-45291 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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