CVE-2026-42267
mediumpriority · track · 23EPSS 0.002 · 12 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
Kimai is an open-source time tracking application. From version 2.27.0 to before version 2.54.0, any ROLE_USER can create a tag with a formula string as its name (e.g. =SUM(54+51)) via POST /api/tags and assign it to a timesheet. When an admin exports timesheets to XLSX, ArrayFormatter.formatValue() joins tag names with implode() and returns the result unchanged. OpenSpout promotes any =-prefixed string to a FormulaCell, writing <f>SUM(54+51)</f> into the XLSX archive. Excel evaluates the formula when the file is opened. This issue has been patched in version 2.54.0.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
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affected products (3)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-3xc2-h5r3-wv3rKimai vulnerable to formula Injection via tag names in XLSX export2026-05-05ghsa · osvUS
## Summary Any `ROLE_USER` can create a tag with a formula string as its name (e.g. `=SUM(54+51)`) via `POST /api/tags` and assign it to a timesheet. When an admin exports timesheets to XLSX, `ArrayFormatter.formatValue()` joins tag names with `implode()` and returns the result unchanged. OpenSpout promotes any `=`-prefixed string to a `FormulaCell`, writing `<f>SUM(54+51)</f>` into the XLSX archive. Excel evaluates the formula when the file is opened. ## Details ### 1. `ArrayFormatter` does not sanitize before returning `sanitizeDDE()` exists on `StringHelper` and is called by `TextFormatter`, but `ArrayFormatter` never calls it. ```php // src/Export/Package/CellFormatter/ArrayFormatter.php:24 return implode(', ', $value); // no sanitizeDDE() call ``` ### 2. Tag name validation does not block formula trigger characters The API blocks commas in tag names but permits `=`, `+`, `-`, and `@` - all valid formula prefixes in Excel and LibreOffice Calc. ### 3. OpenSpout silently promotes strings to formula cells `Cell::fromValue("=SUM(54+51)")` returns a `FormulaCell` with no warning. ### PoC 1. It logs in as normal user, creates tag `=SUM(54+51)`, assigns it to a timesheet. 2. Admin has to export timesheets to Excel version via `/en/export/` endpoint. <img width="1339" height="700" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/884c7943-5e3b-4647-8bcc-e264d6719d66" /> <img width="1304" height="128" alt="formula_injection_tags" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ef28f2ad-7491-4a15-bb18-1fcd6ff5e55a" /> ## Impact - Any `ROLE_USER` can plant a formula that executes on the workstation of any user who exports and opens timesheet data - A single malicious tag poisons all future exports across all users and date ranges until the tag is deleted ## Fixes 1. Prevent `=` being part of the tag name (and other fields as well) 2. Use OpenSpout `TextCell` for everything that is a string
also known as (3)
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sources
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references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42267cnnvd
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/releases/tag/2.54.0enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/security/advisories/GHSA-3xc2-h5r3-wv3renisa_euvd
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/releases/tag/2.54.0ProductRelease Notesnvd
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/security/advisories/GHSA-3xc2-h5r3-wv3rExploitMitigationVendor Advisorynvd
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