EspoCRM up to 9.3.8 Export Processor Processor.php sanitizeCellValue code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in EspoCRM up to 9.3.8 and classified as critical. Affected is the function sanitizeCellValue of the file application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Csv/Processor.php of the component Export Processor. This manipulation causes code injection. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-55154. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in EspoCRM up to 9.3.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function sanitizeCellValue of the file application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Csv/Processor.php of the component Export Processor. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

EspoCRM is an open source customer relationship management application. Prior to 9.3.9, application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Csv/Processor.php, application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Xlsx/OpenSpoutProcessor.php, and application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Xlsx/PhpSpreadsheetProcessor.php inspect only the first byte in sanitizeCellValue(). An authenticated low-privileged user can store a free-text value whose formula trigger is preceded by whitespace or a control character, causing CSV or XLSX export to omit the leading single-quote formula-neutralization prefix. When a privileged user opens the exported file and accepts applicable spreadsheet security prompts, spreadsheet software can ignore the whitespace or control-character prefix and evaluate the cell as a formula, permitting outbound data disclosure and, on legacy configurations with DDE enabled, command execution. This issue is fixed in version 9.3.9.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-55154 since 06/16/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059 for this issue.

By approaching the search of inurl:application/Espo/Tools/Export/Format/Csv/Processor.php it is possible to find vulnerable targets with Google Hacking.

Upgrading to version 9.3.9 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Name

• EspoCRM

Version

• 9.3.0
• 9.3.1
• 9.3.2
• 9.3.3
• 9.3.4
• 9.3.5
• 9.3.6
• 9.3.7
• 9.3.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/espocrm/espocrm/

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