CVE-2020-13146Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Spreadsheet formula execution via unescaped cohort names

Published May 18, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

CSV injection in Open edX Studio Ironwood 2.5 allows attackers to execute spreadsheet formulas through exported cohort data. The cohort-name field accepts a formula-prefixed value, and the profile-info report writes it to CSV without neutralizing spreadsheet metacharacters. Reachability requires access to add a cohort, followed by a recipient downloading, importing, and opening the report in spreadsheet software.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

CSV injection in Open edX Studio Ironwood 2.5 allows attackers to execute spreadsheet formulas through exported cohort data. The cohort-name field accepts a formula-prefixed value, and the profile-info report writes it to CSV without neutralizing spreadsheet metacharacters. Reachability requires access to add a cohort, followed by a recipient downloading, importing, and opening the report in spreadsheet software.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-13146
Published
May 18, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-1236, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 18, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1236Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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