CVE-2025-54752 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting Alfasado Inc.'s PowerCMS product, specifically versions 6.7 and earlier in the 6.x series. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of formula elements embedded within CSV files generated or handled by PowerCMS. In this scenario, a malicious user with limited privileges (PR:L) can craft a specially malformed entry that, when exported as a CSV file and subsequently downloaded and opened by another user in their spreadsheet application, can trigger the execution of embedded formula code. This occurs because spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc interpret certain characters (e.g., '=', '+', '-', '@') at the start of CSV cell values as formulas, which can be exploited to execute commands or scripts. The vulnerability requires user interaction (UI:R) since the victim must open the malicious CSV file. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), and the vulnerability can lead to a scope change (S:C), meaning the impact can extend beyond the initially compromised component. The potential impacts include limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability losses, such as data leakage, unauthorized data modification, or disruption of services through malicious macro execution or command injection via spreadsheet formulas. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a plausible target for social engineering attacks. The absence of a patch link indicates that remediation may still be pending or requires vendor coordination. Organizations using affected PowerCMS versions should be aware of this risk, especially in environments where CSV exports are shared and opened by multiple users.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54752 can be significant, particularly in sectors relying heavily on CMS platforms for content management and data export, such as media, publishing, education, and government agencies. The vulnerability could enable attackers to execute malicious code on end-user machines via trusted CSV files, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or disruption of business operations. Given the medium CVSS score (6.5) and the requirement for user interaction, the risk is moderate but non-negligible. The scope change indicates that the compromise could extend beyond the CMS itself, affecting client endpoints and possibly internal networks if lateral movement is achieved. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the confidentiality implications, as exploitation could result in unauthorized data exposure and regulatory penalties. Additionally, the reliance on CSV files for data interchange in many European enterprises increases the likelihood of exposure if proper handling and validation are not enforced.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Upgrade PowerCMS to a version where this vulnerability is patched once available; until then, restrict CSV export functionality to trusted users only. 2) Implement input validation and sanitization on user-generated content to prevent malicious formula injection before CSV generation. 3) Educate users to avoid opening CSV files directly in spreadsheet applications without first verifying the source and content, and encourage opening CSV files in text editors or using spreadsheet settings that disable automatic formula execution. 4) Configure spreadsheet applications to disable automatic formula evaluation or enable security features such as Protected View or macro restrictions. 5) Employ network-level controls to monitor and restrict the download of CSV files from untrusted sources. 6) Use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to detect and block potentially malicious CSV files containing formula injections. 7) Monitor logs and user activities for unusual CSV export or download patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on both application-level hardening and end-user behavior adjustments tailored to this specific vulnerability.