# CVE-2020-36962: Tendenci 12.3.1 - CSV/ Formula Injection

> Attackers can inject malicious formulas into contact form messages, leading to arbitrary command execution when the exported CSV is opened in spreadsheet software.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4q3w-jgfx-4792, PYSEC-2026-136

## What is CVE-2020-36962?

CVE-2020-36962 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Tendenci, published on 28 Jan 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Tendenci 12.3.1 contains a CSV formula injection vulnerability in the contact form message field that allows attackers to inject malicious formulas during export. Attackers can submit crafted payloads like '=10+20+cmd|' /C calc'!A0' in the message field to trigger arbitrary command execution when the CSV is opened in spreadsheet applications.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36962?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including tendenci. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tendenci` | PyPI | All versions to 12.3.1 | None |
| `tendenci` | PyPI | All versions | 12.3.2 |
| `tendenci` | PyPI | All versions | 12.3.2 |

Products: Tendenci Tendenci.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-36962?

Upgrade tendenci to 12.3.2 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-36962 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36962 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Tendenci

- [CVE-2020-14942](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14942/): Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Tendenci (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-23946](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23946/): Tendenci has Authenticated Remote Code Execution via Pickle Deserialization (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2025-70959](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-70959/): Tendenci CMS Contains a Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability in its Jobs Module (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2025-70960](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-70960/): Tendenci CMS contains a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Forums module (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36962 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36962 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Tendenci, published on 28 Jan 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36962 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- tendenci (PyPI): affected all versions up to 12.3.1; no fix listed
- tendenci (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 12.3.2
- tendenci (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 12.3.2

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-2020-36962/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36962/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36962
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36962
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36962

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36962/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.