CVE-2023-4006Network attack vector

Spreadsheet formula execution via unsanitized report rows

Published Jul 31, 2023 · Updated Oct 11, 2024

CSV formula injection in phpMyFAQ before 3.1.16 allows remote authenticated users to place formulas in exported reports. The administrative report exporter joins database-derived row values into CSV output without neutralizing spreadsheet formula prefixes. A privileged user must export and open the poisoned report in a spreadsheet, where the formula executes in that user's desktop context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.81%
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 phpMyFAQ before 3.1.16 allows remote authenticated users to place formulas in exported reports. The administrative report exporter joins database-derived row values into CSV output without neutralizing spreadsheet formula prefixes. A privileged user must export and open the poisoned report in a spreadsheet, where the formula executes in that user's desktop context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4006
Published
Jul 31, 2023
Updated
Oct 11, 2024
Vendor
Thorsten Rinne
Product
phpMyFAQ
Classifications
CWE-1236, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 31, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 11, 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=0 <3.1.16
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <3.1.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Thorsten Rinne · phpMyFAQversion=0 <3.1.16; version=unspecified <3.1.16

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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