CVE-2021-3188Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Spreadsheet formula execution via unsanitized exported email

Published Jan 21, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

CSV injection in phpList 3.6.0 allows remote attackers to place spreadsheet formulas in administrator exports through a crafted email address. The /lists/admin export path writes the stored email field into CSV output without neutralizing leading formula characters, causing a spreadsheet to interpret the field as a formula. Exploitation requires the crafted address to be stored and an administrator to export and open the file in a formula-capable spreadsheet, exposing data or executing commands in the administrator's context.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.79%
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 phpList 3.6.0 allows remote attackers to place spreadsheet formulas in administrator exports through a crafted email address. The /lists/admin export path writes the stored email field into CSV output without neutralizing leading formula characters, causing a spreadsheet to interpret the field as a formula. Exploitation requires the crafted address to be stored and an administrator to export and open the file in a formula-capable spreadsheet, exposing data or executing commands in the administrator's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3188
Published
Jan 21, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-1236, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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

10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious 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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