diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fb45381e..eaf670f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1285,8 +1285,9 @@ Both ends of the pipeline attach `error` listeners. If the database stream or th
 
 Every CSV field is processed by `escapeCsvField()` in `src/services/auditLogStore.js`:
 
-1. **Leading-character neutralisation** — cells beginning with `=`, `+`, `-`, `@`, TAB, or CR are prefixed with a single quote (`'`). This prevents spreadsheet software (Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets) from interpreting the cell as a formula or a DDE command.
-2. **RFC 4180 quoting** — fields containing commas, double-quotes, or newlines are wrapped in double-quotes; embedded double-quotes are doubled (`"` → `""`).
+1. **Leading-whitespace normalisation** — the field is checked after stripping leading whitespace (`trimStart()`), so values like ` =HYPERLINK(...)` or `\t=cmd` are caught even when the dangerous character is not in position 0.
+2. **Leading-character neutralisation** — cells whose first non-whitespace character is `=`, `+`, `-`, `@`, `|`, TAB, or CR are prefixed with a single quote (`'`). This covers the full OWASP CSV Injection list and prevents spreadsheet software (Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets) from interpreting the cell as a formula or DDE command.
+3. **RFC 4180 quoting** — fields containing commas, double-quotes, or newlines are wrapped in double-quotes; embedded double-quotes are doubled (`"` → `""`).
 
 #### Tenant isolation
 
diff --git a/src/services/auditLogStore.js b/src/services/auditLogStore.js
index b8aaaa61..d738ae1e 100644
--- a/src/services/auditLogStore.js
+++ b/src/services/auditLogStore.js
@@ -88,10 +88,25 @@ async function appendAuditEvent(event, options = {}) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Escapes a single CSV field value to prevent formula-injection attacks
- * (cells beginning with =, +, -, @, TAB, or CR are prefixed with a single
- * quote so that spreadsheet software treats them as plain text) and to
- * conform to RFC 4180 quoting rules.
+ * Escapes a single CSV field value to prevent formula-injection attacks and
+ * to conform to RFC 4180 quoting rules.
+ *
+ * Formula-injection neutralisation (OWASP CSV Injection guidance):
+ *   - Leading whitespace is stripped before the dangerous-character check so
+ *     that values like " =HYPERLINK(...)" or "\t=cmd" are not overlooked.
+ *   - Any field whose leading non-whitespace character is one of
+ *     = + - @ | \t \r is prefixed with a single quote (') on the *original*
+ *     string so that spreadsheet software treats the cell as plain text.
+ *
+ * Covered cases:
+ *   "=SUM(...)"          → "'=SUM(...)"
+ *   " =HYPERLINK(...)"   → "' =HYPERLINK(...)"  (leading space + =)
+ *   "\t=cmd"             → "'\t=cmd"            (leading tab + =)
+ *   "+cmd|..."           → "'+cmd|..."
+ *   "-2+3"               → "'-2+3"
+ *   "@SUM(1)"            → "'@SUM(1)"
+ *   "|calc.exe"          → "'|calc.exe"
+ *   "\r=evil"            → "'\r=evil"           (leading CR)
  *
  * @param {*} val - Raw field value (any type; will be coerced to string).
  * @returns {string} Safely-escaped CSV field, quoted when necessary.
@@ -99,10 +114,11 @@ async function appendAuditEvent(event, options = {}) {
 function escapeCsvField(val) {
   const str = val == null ? '' : String(val);
 
-  // Neutralise formula-injection: prefix dangerous leading characters.
-  // Covers the OWASP-recommended set: = + - @ \t \r
+  // Neutralise formula-injection: inspect the first non-whitespace character.
+  // Covers the OWASP-recommended set: = + - @ | \t \r
+  const trimmedFirst = str.trimStart();
   const injectionSafe =
-    str.length > 0 && /^[=+\-@\t\r]/.test(str) ? `'${str}` : str;
+    trimmedFirst.length > 0 && /^[=+\-@|\t\r]/.test(trimmedFirst) ? `'${str}` : str;
 
   // RFC 4180 quoting: wrap in double-quotes if the value contains a
   // comma, double-quote, or newline; escape embedded double-quotes by
diff --git a/tests/auditLogStore.streaming.test.js b/tests/auditLogStore.streaming.test.js
index 8e5379d7..63aba2e3 100644
--- a/tests/auditLogStore.streaming.test.js
+++ b/tests/auditLogStore.streaming.test.js
@@ -113,6 +113,45 @@ describe('escapeCsvField', () => {
     // Numbers are coerced to string; "-100" starts with - so it gets prefixed
     expect(escapeCsvField(-100)).toBe("'-100");
   });
+
+  // ── Leading-whitespace regression (issue fix) ─────────────────────────────
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with a leading space then "=" (whitespace bypass)', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField(' =HYPERLINK("http://evil.com")')).toBe("' =HYPERLINK(\"http://evil.com\")");
+  });
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with multiple leading spaces then "+"', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField('   +cmd')).toBe("'   +cmd");
+  });
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with a leading tab then "=" (tab-prefix bypass)', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField('\t=MALICIOUS()')).toBe("'\t=MALICIOUS()");
+  });
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with leading space then "-"', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField(' -2+3')).toBe("' -2+3");
+  });
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with leading space then "@"', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField(' @SUM(1)')).toBe("' @SUM(1)");
+  });
+
+  // ── Pipe (|) prefix (OWASP DDE) ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  it('prefixes | with a single quote (DDE/pipe injection)', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField('|calc.exe')).toBe("'|calc.exe");
+  });
+
+  it('neutralizes a field with leading space then "|"', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField(' |calc.exe')).toBe("' |calc.exe");
+  });
+
+  // ── Whitespace-only and all-whitespace edge cases ─────────────────────────
+
+  it('does not prefix whitespace-only values', () => {
+    expect(escapeCsvField('   ')).toBe('   ');
+    expect(escapeCsvField('\t')).toBe('\t');
+  });
 });
 
 // ── rowToCsvLine ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────