Positive Technologies Helps Patch Vulnerability in PHPOffice Library

Red Dog Security

— 2 min read
Positive Technologies Helps Patch Vulnerability in PHPOffice Library

Alexander Zhurnakov, a researcher at Positive Technologies, has played a key role in identifying and helping patch a high-severity vulnerability in the open-source Math library, which is used for rendering mathematical formulas in documents. The vulnerability also affected PHPWord, a widely used PHP library for reading and generating text documents, due to its dependency on Math.

Key Details

  • CVE ID: CVE-2025-48882
  • CVSS 4.0 Score: 8.7 (High)
  • Affected Versions:
  • Discovered by: Alexander Zhurnakov, Positive Technologies
  • Reported via: Coordinated disclosure

Risk Summary:

A successful exploit could allow attackers to:

  • Read sensitive local files (e.g., database configuration, credentials)
  • Perform Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)—sending unauthorized requests to internal services from the server

How the Vulnerability Worked

The issue was caused by insecure file handling logic in the Math library. Attackers could create malicious OpenDocument Format (ODF) files (such as .odt) that, when processed by applications using PHPWord and Math, would:

  • Read local files like /etc/passwd or other sensitive configuration files
  • Trigger SSRF attacks by making internal HTTP requests—potentially targeting cloud metadata endpoints or internal APIs

Exploitation Scenario

A likely attack path would involve:

  1. An authenticated user uploads a crafted ODF document via a web application that uses PHPWord for document processing.
  2. The vulnerable library processes the file and reads arbitrary file paths or sends unauthorized network requests.
  3. The attacker uses the exposed information (e.g., API keys, database passwords) to escalate privileges or move laterally within the system.

Mitigation and Fixes

Patch Available:

  • Math Library: Updated to v0.3.0 with direct vulnerability fix
  • PHPWord: Updated to v1.4.0, which includes the patched Math version

⚠ Workaround (if patching is delayed):

  • Block ODF file uploads in applications using PHPWord and Math

Expert Insight

“The exploit would likely require an authenticated user uploading a malicious document. However, if successful, attackers could steal configuration files, gain administrative access, or launch SSRF attacks. The impact depends on the application—a standalone PDF converter would be low-risk, but a document management system could be severely compromised.”
— Alexander Zhurnakov, Penetration Testing Researcher, Positive Technologies

Why This Matters

  • PHPWord is widely used in PHP-based applications for generating reports, invoices, and formatted documents.
  • SSRF vulnerabilities pose serious risks—potentially exposing cloud metadata services, internal databases, or internal admin panels.
  • Dependency risks are real: this case highlights how indirect libraries, like Math in PHPWord, can introduce significant vulnerabilities.

Recommendations

  • Update to Math v0.3.0 or PHPWord v1.4.0 immediately
  • Audit applications using these libraries for ODF upload functionality
  • Review server logs for suspicious document processing or unexpected internal network requests

Final Note

This incident serves as a strong reminder that “minor” dependencies can become major risks. Regularly reviewing and updating your software stack—and validating every component in your dependency chain—is critical to maintaining secure infrastructure.

Stay tuned for further disclosures and guidance from Positive Technologies.

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