CVE-2018-10257 in The Ultimate HRM
Summary
by MITRE
A CSV Injection vulnerability was discovered in HRSALE The Ultimate HRM v1.0.2 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 • 05/25/2025
The CSV injection vulnerability in HRSALE The Ultimate HRM v1.0.2 represents a critical security flaw that exploits the insecure handling of user input within the export functionality. This vulnerability falls under CWE-1236, which specifically addresses the improper handling of potentially malicious data in CSV files. The issue manifests when low-privilege users can manipulate input fields that are subsequently exported to CSV format, creating a vector for command execution through malicious payload injection.
The technical exploitation occurs through the manipulation of CSV cell content where specially crafted input can be interpreted as executable commands by spreadsheet applications. When users export data containing malicious payloads such as formula-based commands starting with equal signs, these can trigger arbitrary code execution upon opening the CSV file in applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding within the export module, allowing raw user data to be directly embedded into the CSV structure without proper escaping or validation.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations using the HRSALE platform as it enables privilege escalation from low-level user accounts to potential full system compromise. Attackers can craft malicious CSV files that, when opened by unsuspecting administrators or employees, execute harmful commands including file deletion, data exfiltration, or system command execution. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution as it can facilitate further reconnaissance, lateral movement, and persistent access within the compromised environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.002 for remote services, as it enables attackers to leverage spreadsheet applications as attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CSV export functionality. Organizations should sanitize all user inputs by escaping special characters, particularly those that could trigger formula execution in spreadsheet applications such as equal signs, at symbols, and plus signs. The implementation of proper CSV escaping techniques and the use of secure export libraries that automatically handle dangerous characters is essential. Additionally, restricting CSV export functionality to high-privilege users only, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security audits of export modules can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also educate users about the dangers of opening untrusted CSV files and implement application whitelisting to prevent arbitrary command execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure data handling practices and the need for comprehensive input validation across all user-facing application components, particularly those involving data export and import operations.