CVE-2026-93581
6.1MediumPublished 12 Oct 2026 · NVD status: Deferred · AI triage by gemini-3.8-flash
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Impact
- Limited impact
- Weakness
- CWE-1236
Impact
Remote attackers can execute spreadsheet formulas on an operator's machine when they open an exported CSV file. Attackers can inject these payloads without authentication via external channels like incoming support emails.
Root cause
The application fails to sanitize formula prefix characters (=, +, -, @) from user-controlled fields before including them in CSV exports.
Affected systems
OTRS 7.0.X, 8.0.X, 2023.X, 2024.X, 2025.X, 2026.X before 2026.7.X, and ((OTRS)) Community Edition 6.x and earlier.
CVSS v3.1 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Fix & remediation
Upgrade OTRS 2026.X to version 2026.7.X or newer (check vendor advisory for specific patches on older branches). If unable to patch immediately, instruct staff not to export CSVs or to open them exclusively in plain-text editors rather than spreadsheet software.
AI-suggested. Run it in staging first and check it against the vendor advisory. Why?
NVD description
User-controlled values are not sufficiently neutralized when included in CSV exports. Values originating from user input, including data submitted by authenticated users or received through external communication channels such as email, may be stored in fields that are later included in CSV exports. An attacker can therefore inject values beginning with spreadsheet formula characters such as =, +, -, or @. An attacker does not necessarily require an authenticated account if the affected field can be populated through an external input channel such as incoming email. When an affected CSV file is opened in spreadsheet software, the application may interpret these values as formulas instead of plain text. Depending on the spreadsheet application and its security configuration, a malicious formula may cause unintended actions, disclose information, or invoke external functionality. Exploitation may require the user opening the exported CSV file to confirm one or more security warning dialogs. The vulnerability does not execute code on the OTRS server; any additional impact occurs in the spreadsheet application used to process the exported file. This issue affects OTRS: * 7.0.X * 8.0.X * 2023.X * 2024.X * 2025.X * 2026.X before 2026.7.X Please note that ((OTRS)) Community Edition 6.x and before are vulnerable. Products based on the ((OTRS)) Community Edition also very likely to be affected