CVE-2018-8092 in Mautic
Summary
by MITRE
Mautic before 2.13.0 allows CSV injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8092 affects Mautic versions prior to 2.13.0 and represents a critical CSV injection flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious code through specially crafted input in exported data. This vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data when generating CSV files, creating an avenue for arbitrary code execution within the context of the web application. The flaw specifically manifests when Mautic exports contact data or other information to CSV format, allowing malicious actors to inject formulas or commands that execute when the file is opened in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-1236, which describes the weakness of insufficient input validation in data export functions, and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter. The vulnerability occurs because Mautic fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters that have meaning in spreadsheet applications, particularly the equals sign, plus sign, minus sign, and at symbol. When these characters appear at the beginning of CSV cells, they are interpreted by spreadsheet applications as formulas or commands rather than literal text, enabling attackers to embed malicious formulas that can execute when the file is opened.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated method for executing arbitrary code on systems where the exported CSV files are opened. This creates a significant risk for organizations using Mautic for customer relationship management, as attackers can craft malicious CSV files that, when opened by unsuspecting employees, could download malware, execute shell commands, or perform other malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where spreadsheet files are frequently shared and opened by multiple users, potentially leading to widespread compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to systems, escalate privileges, or establish backdoors through the execution of malicious formulas that exploit the trust relationships between spreadsheet applications and the operating system.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Mautic version 2.13.0 or later to address this vulnerability, as the fix implements proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms for exported data. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Mautic installations, configuring spreadsheet applications to disable automatic formula execution, and establishing strict access controls for data export functionality. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of existing Mautic installations and review access logs for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of data export functions, particularly those involving formats that are interpreted by other applications with different execution contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their email marketing and CRM infrastructure.