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NodeJS version of the HAX CMS application is distributed with Default Secrets

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jul 21, 2025 in haxtheweb/issues • Updated Jul 23, 2025

Package

npm @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm)

Affected versions

< 11.0.10

Patched versions

11.0.10

Description

Summary

The NodeJS version of the HAX CMS application is distributed with hardcoded default credentials for the user and superuser accounts. Additionally, the application has default private keys for JWTs. Users aren't prompted to change credentials or secrets during installation, and there is no way to change them through the UI.

Affected Resources

Impact

An unauthenticated attacker can read the default user credentials and JWT private keys from the public haxtheweb GitHub repositories. These credentials and keys can be used to access unconfigured self-hosted instances of the application, modify sites, and perform further attacks.

References

@btopro btopro published to haxtheweb/issues Jul 21, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jul 21, 2025
Reviewed Jul 21, 2025
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jul 22, 2025
Last updated Jul 23, 2025

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
Low

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(19th percentile)

Weaknesses

Use of Default Credentials

The product uses default credentials (such as passwords or cryptographic keys) for potentially critical functionality. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-54137

GHSA ID

GHSA-5fpv-5qvh-7cf3

Source code

Credits

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