CVE-2025-48867 Overview
CVE-2025-48867 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Horilla HRM 1.3.0, an open-source Human Resource Management System. Authenticated admin or privileged users can inject malicious JavaScript payloads into multiple fields within the Project and Task modules. The payloads persist in the database and execute when other privileged users view the affected records through the web interface. Although the flaw requires authenticated access, it enables session hijacking and unauthorized actions against high-privilege accounts. At the time of publication, no vendor patch is available. The weakness is classified as [CWE-79] Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation.
Critical Impact
A privileged attacker can persist JavaScript in Project and Task fields to hijack admin sessions and perform unauthorized actions within Horilla HRM 1.3.0.
Affected Products
- Horilla HRM 1.3.0
- Horilla Project module input fields
- Horilla Task module input fields
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-24 - CVE-2025-48867 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48867
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Project and Task modules of Horilla HRM 1.3.0. User-supplied input in several fields is stored without adequate output encoding or sanitization. When an administrator or other privileged user renders the affected views, the browser executes attacker-controlled JavaScript in the context of the victim's authenticated session.
Because the payload is persisted in the database, exploitation does not require the attacker to interact with the victim after injection. Any privileged user who subsequently views the tampered project or task record triggers the payload. This creates a reliable path to session token theft, forced browser actions, and lateral abuse of administrative functionality within the HRMS.
Exploitation requires authenticated access with permissions to create or edit records in the affected modules, which limits the population of viable attackers but does not eliminate insider or compromised-account scenarios.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input validation and output encoding on multiple form fields exposed by the Project and Task modules ([CWE-79]). Values submitted to these fields are stored verbatim and later rendered into HTML pages without contextual escaping, allowing <script> tags and event-handler attributes to execute in the browser.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker with permission to create or edit Projects or Tasks submits a payload such as JavaScript embedded in a name, description, or comment field. The value is persisted server-side. When an administrator or other privileged user opens the affected project or task page, the browser parses and executes the payload under the victim's session. The attacker can then exfiltrate session cookies, invoke authenticated API actions on behalf of the victim, or modify HRMS records. See the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-w242-xv47-j55r for the vendor's technical description.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48867
Indicators of Compromise
- Project or Task records containing <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: substrings in name, description, or comment fields.
- Unexpected outbound HTTP requests from admin browsers to attacker-controlled domains shortly after viewing HRMS pages.
- Administrative actions in Horilla audit logs originating from admin accounts at unusual times or from unusual source IPs.
Detection Strategies
- Query the Horilla database for HTML or script tags in Project and Task text fields to identify stored payloads.
- Inspect web server access logs for POST or PATCH requests to Project and Task endpoints containing encoded script markers.
- Monitor browser telemetry from privileged users for anomalous script execution and cookie access when navigating HRMS pages.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable and centrally collect Horilla application and audit logs to correlate admin actions with record modifications.
- Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to capture blocked inline script executions on HRMS pages.
- Alert on session activity where an admin session cookie is used from a new IP address or user agent shortly after record access.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48867
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict Project and Task edit permissions to a minimal set of trusted accounts until a patch is released.
- Review existing Project and Task records for HTML or JavaScript content and sanitize or delete affected entries.
- Require administrators to use dedicated browser profiles or isolated sessions when accessing Horilla HRM.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no vendor patch is available for CVE-2025-48867. Monitor the Horilla GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-w242-xv47-j55r for remediation updates and apply the fix as soon as the maintainers release a corrected version.
Workarounds
- Deploy a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Place Horilla behind a web application firewall (WAF) with rules that block common XSS payload patterns in Project and Task endpoints.
- Enforce short session lifetimes, HttpOnly and Secure cookie flags, and multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts.
# Example Content-Security-Policy header for the Horilla web server
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'; frame-ancestors 'self'
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
