CVE-2024-45291

Path traversal and Server-Side Request Forgery in HTML writer when embedding images is enabled in PHPSpreadsheet

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: October 7, 2024 at 08:09 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 07:53 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPhpSpreadsheet

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.9%
SSVC
PoC

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.29.2v < 2.1.1v < 2.3.02.0.0 ≤ v < 2.1.12.2.0 ≤ v < 2.3.02.0.02.2.0
Affected range stops below 1.29.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 2.1.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 2.3.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

References (1)

x_refsource_MISCx_refsource_CONFIRMExploitThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/PHPOffice/PhpSpreadsheet/security/advisories/GHSA-w9xv-qf98-ccq4

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-36CWE-918CWE-22

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