CVE-2025-11576 is a CSV Injection vulnerability classified under CWE-1236, affecting the 'AI Chatbot Free Models – Customer Support, Live Chat, Virtual Assistant' WordPress plugin developed by newcodebyte. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.6.5 due to improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files generated by the 'newcodebyte_chatbot_export_messages' function. Specifically, the plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied input before embedding it into CSV exports, allowing attackers to inject malicious spreadsheet formulas such as =CMD|' /C calc'!A0 or similar payloads. When a victim downloads and opens the crafted CSV file in spreadsheet software that supports formula evaluation, these formulas can execute arbitrary commands or code on the local machine, potentially leading to data manipulation or further compromise. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it accessible to unauthenticated remote attackers, but it does require user interaction to open the malicious CSV file. The vulnerability does not directly impact confidentiality or availability but poses a risk to data integrity and local system security. No patches or updates are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting the ease of exploitation but limited scope and impact. Mitigations include sanitizing CSV exports to neutralize formula characters, restricting CSV export functionality, and user awareness to avoid opening untrusted CSV files.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-11576 is the potential execution of arbitrary commands on a user's local system when opening a maliciously crafted CSV file exported from the vulnerable plugin. This can lead to unauthorized data manipulation, execution of malicious code, or further compromise of the user's environment. Since the vulnerability is exploitable without authentication, attackers can craft and distribute malicious CSV files via phishing or other social engineering methods targeting administrators or users who export chatbot messages. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, the integrity of exported data and the security of local systems are at risk. Organizations relying on this plugin for customer support or virtual assistant functions may face reputational damage, operational disruption, or targeted attacks if exploited. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin increases the potential attack surface globally.

1. Immediately monitor for updates or patches from the newcodebyte vendor and apply them as soon as they become available. 2. In the absence of an official patch, implement input sanitization on the server side to neutralize or escape formula characters (=, +, -, @) in CSV exports, for example by prefixing fields with a single quote (') or using safe CSV export libraries. 3. Restrict or disable CSV export functionality for users who do not require it, minimizing exposure. 4. Educate users and administrators to treat CSV files from the plugin with caution, especially those received via email or untrusted sources, and to open them in spreadsheet applications with formula evaluation disabled or in safe modes. 5. Employ endpoint security solutions that can detect and block suspicious command executions triggered by spreadsheet applications. 6. Review and harden WordPress user permissions to limit who can export chatbot messages. 7. Monitor logs for unusual export activity or access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.