CVE-2026-47693 in Poweradmin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/24/2026
Poweradmin is a web-based DNS administration tool for PowerDNS server. Versions prior to 4.2.4 and 4.3.3 are vulnerable to CSV Injection (Formula Injection) in its log export functionality. User-controlled data — specifically the username field — is written to exported CSV files without sanitizing formula trigger characters (=, +, -, @). When an administrator exports activity logs and opens the resulting CSV in a spreadsheet application (Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets), any formula stored in a username is executed by the application. This can be used for phishing attacks against administrators or data exfiltration. Versions 4.2.4 and 4.3.3 patch the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2026
Poweradmin represents a web-based administrative interface designed specifically for managing PowerDNS server configurations, making it an essential tool for DNS infrastructure management within enterprise environments. The vulnerability identified affects versions prior to 4.2.4 and 4.3.3, where the application's log export functionality contains a critical security flaw that exposes administrators to significant risks. This vulnerability manifests in the improper handling of user-controlled data during CSV file generation, specifically targeting the username field within exported logs.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization within the CSV export mechanism, where formula trigger characters including equals sign, plus, minus, and at symbols are not properly escaped or removed from user-provided content. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1236, which addresses the improper handling of formula injection in spreadsheet applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for abuse of scripting languages and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering. When administrators open the exported CSV files in spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets, these applications automatically interpret any formula-like content beginning with trigger characters as executable commands rather than plain text data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, presenting attackers with sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise administrative systems. An attacker who successfully injects malicious formulas into the username field can execute phishing attacks against administrators by creating spreadsheets that automatically redirect users to malicious websites or display fake login prompts within spreadsheet applications. Additionally, the vulnerability enables data exfiltration capabilities where attackers can craft formulas that extract sensitive information from the spreadsheet environment and transmit it to external servers controlled by the attacker. This represents a particularly dangerous class of attack because it leverages the trust relationship between administrators and their administrative tools, making detection more difficult.
The exploitation process requires minimal technical sophistication yet delivers maximum impact, as attackers only need to register with malicious usernames containing formula triggers that will execute when the CSV is opened in spreadsheet applications. The patched versions address this issue through proper input sanitization techniques that escape or remove formula trigger characters from user-controlled data before inclusion in exported CSV files. Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to Poweradmin 4.2.4 or 4.3.3, while also considering additional defensive measures such as restricting spreadsheet file access to trusted users and implementing network monitoring to detect unusual outbound connections from spreadsheet applications that might indicate formula execution attempts.