CVE-2025-23562 in XLSXviewer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/22/2025
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in NotFound XLSXviewer allows Path Traversal. This issue affects XLSXviewer: from n/a through 2.1.1.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2025
The CVE-2025-23562 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw in the NotFound XLSXviewer application, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial release through 2.1.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which defines improper limitation of pathname to a restricted directory as a fundamental security weakness that allows attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure. The flaw exists within the application's handling of file paths during XLSX document processing, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate file access patterns and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the XLSXviewer's file path resolution mechanism. When processing Excel files, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied file paths, allowing crafted input to traverse directory boundaries and access files in restricted system locations. This occurs because the application does not adequately restrict path components such as double dots or forward slashes that would normally be filtered out during legitimate file operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious XLSX files containing specially formatted paths that bypass the intended security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can enable attackers to execute a range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and potential privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access sensitive configuration files, system logs, user credentials, or other confidential data stored outside the intended application directory. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it affects multiple versions of the application, meaning organizations running any version within the affected range are potentially exposed to this threat. This path traversal capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which describes the use of command and scripting interpreters to execute malicious code through compromised applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the latest available version of XLSXviewer that addresses this vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and deploying application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security assessments of file handling mechanisms within applications, proper input validation at all entry points, and implementation of least privilege principles for file system access. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for preventing path traversal attacks, emphasizing that even seemingly simple file operations require robust security controls to prevent exploitation.