How severe is CVE-2015-3542?

No CVSS score has been assigned to CVE-2015-3542 yet. Review the advisory details and affected package list to assess your exposure.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2015-3542?

CVE-2015-3542 affects the following packages: phpoffice/phpexcel (Packagist). Ecosystems affected: Packagist.

How do I fix CVE-2015-3542?

Update phpoffice/phpexcel to 1.8.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2015-3542 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

How do I detect CVE-2015-3542 in my Packagist dependencies?

Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for phpoffice/phpexcel, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

How do I mitigate CVE-2015-3542 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Is CVE-2015-3542 actively exploited in the wild?

No public exploit code has been indexed for CVE-2015-3542 yet. This does not mean the vulnerability cannot be exploited — absence of public exploits does not imply safety. Apply the recommended fix and use O3 Security to monitor your exposure.

When was CVE-2015-3542 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2015-3542 was published on November 7, 2024 and was last updated on November 7, 2024. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

🐘 Packagist

Not in CISA KEV

CVE-2015-3542 — phpexcel

Fix: PHPOffice/PHPExcel@0ab614f

CVE-2015-3542 is a security vulnerability in phpoffice/phpexcel. A fix is available for phpoffice/phpexcel — see the affected versions and patch details below.

PHPExcel XXE Vulnerability

Published

Nov 7, 2024

Updated

Nov 7, 2024

Affected

1 pkg

Patched

1 / 1

Exploits

None indexed

Exploitation data as of Nov 7, 2024 · OSV.dev, FIRST.org (EPSS)

Real-World Exposure

1 pkg affected

🐘phpoffice/phpexcel

Real-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Packagist packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.

Description

PHPExcel XXE Vulnerability

Affected Packages

1 total 1 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
🐘Packagist	`phpoffice/phpexcel`	all versions	1.8.1`composer require phpoffice/phpexcel:^1.8.1`

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

Detect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for phpoffice/phpexcel, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update phpoffice/phpexcel to 1.8.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2015-3542 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

PHPExcel XXE Vulnerability

O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is CVE-2015-3542 in your dependencies?

Find it across Packagist, including transitive dependencies.

Scan my dependencies How O3 SCA works

CVE-2015-3542 — phpexcel

Real-World Exposure

Description

Affected Packages

Detection & mitigation playbook

Detect

Fix

Workarounds

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CVE-2015-3542 in your dependencies?