Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-25135 affects Anviz AIM CrossChex Standard, a biometric/time-attendance management product. The issue lets malicious values in imported user CSV fields become spreadsheet formulas. If processed unsafely, those formulas may execute commands through spreadsheet behavior. Public exploit information exists, but the provided sources do not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as urgent for sites running the affected Anviz software, especially where CSV imports support HR, access-control, or attendance operations. Prioritize inventory and vendor remediation checks first. If the product is not deployed, no action is needed beyond confirming absence.
Technical view
The sources describe CSV injection in Anviz AIM CrossChex Standard 4.3/4.3.6.0 user import fields such as Name, Gender, and Position. The CVE record rates it CVSS 9.8 critical under CWE-149. ExploitDB and Zero Science Lab published details. The provided bundle does not identify a vendor patch, fixed version, or official mitigation.
Likely exposure
Organizations using Anviz AIM CrossChex Standard 4.3 or 4.3.6.0 are the relevant exposure group. Risk is highest where staff import user records from untrusted or externally supplied CSV files and then open or process exported/imported data in spreadsheet software.
Exploitation context
A public ExploitDB entry exists, so the technique is publicly documented. The source bundle marks CISA KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Practical impact depends on CSV import workflows, trust boundaries around user data, and spreadsheet security settings.
Researcher notes
The CVE metadata is unusual: it has a 2018 identifier but a 2025 publication date in the bundle. Affected version wording also varies between 4.3 and 4.3.6.0. No official fix is present in the supplied sources. Avoid assuming broader Anviz product impact without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Identify whether Anviz AIM CrossChex Standard 4.3 or 4.3.6.0 is deployed.
- Check Anviz guidance for patched versions or official remediation.
- Restrict CSV user import privileges to trusted administrators.
- Accept user-import CSV files only from trusted, verified sources.
- Avoid opening imported/exported CSV data in spreadsheet tools with active content enabled.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed CrossChex Standard versions and deployment locations.
- Review whether user CSV import is enabled and routinely used.
- Confirm whether CSV sources include third parties, contractors, or unmanaged systems.
- Check vendor sources for a fixed release or advisory.
- Test CSV handling only in an isolated, non-production environment.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-149: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-25135 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-45765CVE reference · exploit
- Anviz Biometric Technology Product HomepageCVE reference · product
- Zero Science Lab Disclosure (ZSL-2018-5498)CVE reference · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Quoting Syntax
Improper Neutralization of Quoting Syntax represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.