CVE-2021-39022Network attack vector

Command execution via unneutralized CSV formula fields

Published Mar 10, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

CSV formula injection in IBM Guardium Data Encryption 4.0.0.0 and 5.0.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to plant spreadsheet commands. The CSV export path writes user-controlled cell content without neutralizing formula-leading elements, causing spreadsheet software to interpret the content as a command. Exploitation requires high product privileges and a recipient to open the exported file, after which commands run in the spreadsheet user's security context.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

CSV formula injection in IBM Guardium Data Encryption 4.0.0.0 and 5.0.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to plant spreadsheet commands. The CSV export path writes user-controlled cell content without neutralizing formula-leading elements, causing spreadsheet software to interpret the content as a command. Exploitation requires high product privileges and a recipient to open the exported file, after which commands run in the spreadsheet user's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39022
Published
Mar 10, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Guardium Data Encryption
Classifications
CWE-1236, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 10, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.0.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=5.0.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Guardium Data Encryptionversion=4.0.0.0; version=5.0.0.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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