# CVE-2019-17661: Code injection in n/a

> Attackers can inject malicious formulas into user profiles, leading to remote code execution when victims open exported CSV files in spreadsheet applications.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Nov 2019
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-46x4-34f2-j42g

## What is CVE-2019-17661?

CVE-2019-17661 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 8 Nov 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A CSV injection in the codepress-admin-columns (aka Admin Columns) plugin 3.4.6 for WordPress allows malicious users to gain remote control of other computers. By choosing formula code as his first or last name, an attacker can create a user with a name that contains malicious code. Other users might download this data as a CSV file and corrupt their PC by opening it in a tool such as Microsoft Excel. The attacker could gain remote access to the user's PC.

Weakness: CWE-1236 (Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-17661?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Admincolumns Admin Columns.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-17661?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-17661 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-17661 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-17661 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-24365](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24365/): Admin Columns Free (< 4.3.2) & Pro (< 5.5.2) - Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in Custom Field (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2021-24366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24366/): Admin Columns Free < 4.3 & Pro < 5.5.1 - Admin+ Stored XSS in Label (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-17661 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-17661 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 8 Nov 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-17661 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17661/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17661/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17661
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17661
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-17661

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17661/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.