CVE-2024-28111 in canarytokens
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2024
Canarytokens helps track activity and actions on a network. Canarytokens.org supports exporting the history of a Canarytoken's incidents in CSV format. The generation of these CSV files is vulnerable to a CSV Injection vulnerability. This flaw can be used by an attacker who discovers an HTTP-based Canarytoken to target the Canarytoken's owner, if the owner exports the incident history to CSV and opens in a reader application such as Microsoft Excel. The impact is that this issue could lead to code execution on the machine on which the CSV file is opened. Version sha-c595a1f8 contains a fix for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2025
The CVE-2024-28111 vulnerability represents a critical CSV injection flaw in the Canarytokens platform that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim machines through maliciously crafted CSV export files. This vulnerability specifically affects the CSV export functionality of Canarytokens.org, which is designed to track network activity and incidents. The flaw occurs when users export incident history data to CSV format, creating a potential attack vector that can be exploited through the default behavior of spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization during CSV file generation, allowing attackers to inject malicious formulas that execute upon file opening in spreadsheet readers.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1236, which defines CSV injection as a specific type of injection attack that occurs when user-controllable data is included in a CSV file without proper escaping or sanitization. The attack vector leverages the automatic formula execution feature of spreadsheet applications, where CSV cells beginning with certain characters like equals signs, plus signs, or hyphens are interpreted as formulas rather than literal text. When an unsuspecting user opens a maliciously crafted CSV file in Excel, the spreadsheet application automatically executes the embedded formulas, potentially leading to remote code execution, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond opening the file, making it a prime candidate for social engineering attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or conduct further reconnaissance within the compromised network. The attack chain typically begins with an attacker discovering an HTTP-based Canarytoken, followed by the generation of malicious CSV content that can be used to target the token owner. When the owner exports incident history and opens the file in Excel, the embedded malicious formulas trigger automatic execution, potentially leading to full system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on spreadsheet applications for incident analysis and reporting, as it exploits the trust users place in seemingly benign CSV export functionality. The risk is amplified in environments where users frequently open CSV files from untrusted sources without proper security awareness training.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28111 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. The primary fix involves updating to the patched version sha-c595a1f8, which implements proper CSV escaping and sanitization of user inputs during file generation. Organizations should also implement security awareness training to educate users about the risks of opening CSV files from untrusted sources, particularly those containing potentially malicious formulas. Additional defensive measures include configuring spreadsheet applications to disable automatic formula execution, implementing network-level controls to restrict access to vulnerable Canarytoken endpoints, and establishing secure file handling procedures that include proper input validation and sanitization. The vulnerability highlights the importance of applying the principle of least privilege and ensuring that all user-controllable data is properly escaped when integrated into structured data formats like CSV files. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar injection vulnerabilities in their own applications and third-party services.