CVE-2023-48709 in iTop
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
iTop is an IT service management platform. When exporting data from backoffice or portal in CSV or Excel files, users' inputs may include malicious formulas that may be imported into Excel. As Excel 2016 does **not** prevent Remote Code Execution by default, uninformed users may become victims. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.7.9, 3.0.4, 3.1.1, and 3.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48709 affects iTop, an IT service management platform that facilitates data export operations through CSV or Excel file formats. This security flaw stems from insufficient input validation during the export process, where user-provided data containing malicious formulas can be embedded within exported files. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure data handling that enables malicious actors to craft specially formatted inputs that, when processed by the platform, generate export files containing potentially harmful content.
The technical execution of this vulnerability relies on the behavior of Microsoft Excel 2016 and later versions which do not automatically disable formula execution by default. When users open exported CSV or Excel files containing malicious formulas, particularly those starting with characters like equals sign followed by potentially dangerous commands, Excel may interpret and execute these formulas as legitimate code. This creates a remote code execution vector where attackers can leverage user interactions with exported files to compromise systems. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-15 as improper neutralization of data within a security context, specifically manifesting as insecure data handling during file export operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors to compromise user systems. Uninformed users who download and open exported files from the iTop platform become potential victims of this attack, as they may unknowingly execute malicious code on their systems. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with IT service management platforms and may not be aware of the security implications of opening exported files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious formulas through spreadsheet applications.
Organizations utilizing iTop platforms must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including upgrading to versions 2.7.9, 3.0.4, 3.1.1, or 3.2.0 where the issue has been resolved. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing security policies that require user education about the risks of opening exported files from web applications, particularly those containing spreadsheet data. The platform should also be configured to sanitize exported data by escaping or removing potentially dangerous characters from user inputs before generating export files. Security measures should include disabling automatic formula execution in spreadsheet applications, implementing content validation for export operations, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect suspicious export activities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to prevent access to potentially malicious content and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.