Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in PhpSpreadsheet by PHPOffice

CVE-2025-22131

What is CVE-2025-22131?

CVE-2025-22131 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in PhpSpreadsheet, an open-source PHP library developed by PHPOffice for handling spreadsheet file operations, including reading from and writing to various spreadsheet formats like XLSX. This vulnerability arises specifically when the library converts XLSX files into HTML for web display. If exploited, attackers could inject malicious scripts into the application, enabling them to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user's session. This risk is particularly concerning for organizations that utilize PhpSpreadsheet in web applications, as it can lead to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or manipulation of spreadsheet files.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-22131

1. User Session Compromise: Attackers could leverage the XSS vulnerability to inject scripts that steal session cookies or tokens, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionalities.

2. Data Integrity Risks: Exploitation of this vulnerability may enable attackers to modify spreadsheet content displayed to users, leading to misinformation, erroneous calculations, and compromised decision-making based on manipulated data.

3. Broader Application Vulnerabilities: Since the vulnerability involves injecting malicious scripts, it could serve as a gateway for further attacks, enabling escalation to other vulnerabilities within the web application that uses PhpSpreadsheet, potentially leading to full system compromises or further data leaks.

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