CVE-2018-10255 in Blog Master Pro
Summary
by MITRE
A CSV Injection vulnerability was discovered in clustercoding Blog Master Pro v1.0 that allows a user with low level privileges to inject a command that will be included in the exported CSV file, leading to possible code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10255 represents a critical CSV injection flaw within the clustercoding Blog Master Pro v1.0 application that fundamentally compromises the integrity of data export operations. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of data processing and command execution, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through seemingly benign export functionality. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-generated content during CSV export processes, where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly filter malicious payloads that could be executed when the exported file is opened in spreadsheet applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the export module of the blogging platform. When users with low privilege levels create content that gets exported to CSV format, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters that have significance in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This creates a condition where malicious input containing formulas or commands can be embedded within the CSV file, which then executes automatically when the file is opened in a spreadsheet application. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes user-supplied data without proper context-aware escaping, allowing attackers to inject spreadsheet formulas such as formulae beginning with equals signs that trigger code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on the Blog Master Pro platform, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems through the CSV export functionality. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to potential system compromise, as the injected commands can leverage the privileges of the application process to perform actions such as file system access, network communication, or even remote code execution. The low privilege requirement for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by users who do not have direct administrative access to the system, creating an indirect path to system compromise through the application's export mechanisms. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and CWE-1235 for Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CSV export functionality. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or sanitized before inclusion in exported files, particularly when the output may be processed by applications with command interpretation capabilities. The implementation of proper context-aware escaping for spreadsheet applications should be enforced, with special characters such as equals signs, plus signs, and at symbols being appropriately encoded or escaped. Additionally, the application should implement strict validation of exported data to prevent the inclusion of potentially dangerous content, while also considering the use of secure export formats that do not support command execution. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the need for proper input sanitization to prevent injection attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review of export modules, implementation of automated testing for CSV injection vulnerabilities, and regular security assessments to ensure that similar flaws do not exist in related functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while maintaining proper monitoring and logging of export activities to detect anomalous behavior.