CVE-2021-23654: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File in html-2-csv
Summary
CVE-2021-23654: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File in html-2-csv. Affects html-to-csv versions < 0.1.3. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The html-to-csv package is an open-source Python package available on PyPI. It provides functionality to convert HTML pages into CSV files. This package is commonly used for data extraction and manipulation tasks. However, all versions of the package are vulnerable to an improper neutralization of formula elements in a CSV file. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor to embed or generate a malicious link or execute commands via CSV files.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in html-to-csv arises from the lack of validation when processing HTML pages with embedded formulas. When converting the HTML page into a CSV file, the formula elements are accepted without proper scrutiny. This allows an attacker to inject malicious links or execute arbitrary commands through the CSV file. The impact of this vulnerability can range from unauthorized access to sensitive data to remote code execution on the target system. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for this vulnerability is 5.6.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can manually validate and sanitize the HTML pages before converting them to CSV files. This can be done by implementing custom validation and sanitization logic to ensure that only trusted and safe content is processed. Here's an example of how this can be achieved using the BeautifulSoup library in Python:
from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
def sanitize_html(html):
soup = BeautifulSoup(html, 'html.parser')
# Implement custom validation and sanitization logic
# ... (code omitted for brevity)
return str(soup)
By applying this workaround, users can mitigate the risk of processing malicious HTML pages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the html-to-csv package is vulnerable to an improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files. This vulnerability allows attackers to embed malicious links or execute arbitrary commands. To mitigate this risk, it is crucial to update the package to a non-vulnerable version (0.1.4 or later). Additionally, implementing custom validation and sanitization logic can serve as a temporary workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability can range from unauthorized access to sensitive data to remote code execution on the target system. An attacker can embed or generate malicious links or execute arbitrary commands through CSV files.
To fix this vulnerability, update the html-to-csv package to a non-vulnerable version (0.1.4 or later). Modify the package version in the project's dependency file and install the updated version using the package manager.
Yes, all versions of the html-to-csv package are affected by this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to a non-vulnerable version (0.1.4 or later).
Yes, as a temporary workaround, users can manually validate and sanitize the HTML pages before converting them to CSV files. Implement custom validation and sanitization logic to ensure only trusted and safe content is processed.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.6, indicating a moderate severity level.
