CVE-2025-52623: HCL AION Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-52623 Overview

HCL AION is affected by an Autocomplete HTML Attribute Not Disabled for Password Field vulnerability. This weakness allows autocomplete functionality on password fields, which may lead to unintended storage or disclosure of sensitive credentials. When browsers cache password field values, this potentially increases the risk of unauthorized access if an attacker gains physical or remote access to the user's system.

Critical Impact

Sensitive credentials may be stored in browser autocomplete caches, potentially exposing authentication data to unauthorized parties with system access.

Affected Products

• HCL AION version 2.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE CVE-2025-52623 published to NVD
• 2026-02-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-52623

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials). The issue stems from password input fields in HCL AION that do not have the HTML autocomplete attribute properly configured to prevent browsers from caching sensitive credential data.

When a user enters their password in an affected form field, modern browsers may offer to save the password for future use. If the autocomplete="off" or autocomplete="new-password" attribute is not set on password fields, browsers will retain this sensitive information in their local storage mechanisms. This cached data could be exposed through various attack scenarios including shared workstations, browser profile access, or local malware.

The vulnerability requires network access with low privileges and user interaction to exploit, making it a secondary attack vector that typically requires additional conditions to be exploited effectively.

Root Cause

The root cause is an improper configuration of HTML form elements in HCL AION version 2.0. Password input fields lack the appropriate autocomplete attribute settings that would instruct browsers not to store or suggest previously entered credentials. This represents a deviation from security best practices for handling sensitive authentication data in web applications.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based but requires specific conditions for successful exploitation. An attacker would need:

1. Physical or remote access to a victim's browser profile or system
2. The victim to have previously entered credentials on an affected HCL AION password field
3. The browser to have cached the autocomplete data

Potential exploitation scenarios include shared computer environments, compromised user accounts, or malware with browser data access capabilities. The attacker could retrieve stored credentials from browser autocomplete databases or manipulate form fields to reveal cached password suggestions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-52623

Indicators of Compromise

• Review browser local storage and autocomplete databases for cached HCL AION credentials
• Audit user login patterns for anomalies that may indicate credential theft
• Check for unauthorized access attempts using previously valid credentials

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application security scanning to identify forms with missing autocomplete attributes on password fields
• Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) monitoring to track form submission behaviors
• Use endpoint detection solutions to monitor browser credential storage access patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable authentication logging for HCL AION to track login events and detect unusual access patterns
• Monitor for bulk credential extraction attempts from endpoint systems
• Implement user behavior analytics to identify potential credential compromise indicators

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-52623

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article for vendor-specific guidance
• Audit all HCL AION password fields for proper autocomplete attribute configuration
• Educate users about the risks of using autocomplete features on shared or public systems
• Consider implementing browser policies that disable autocomplete for sensitive applications

Patch Information

Consult the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article for official patch information and remediation guidance from HCL. Apply any available updates to HCL AION version 2.0 that address this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Configure web application firewall (WAF) rules to inject appropriate autocomplete attributes in responses
• Deploy browser group policies to disable password saving for HCL AION domains
• Instruct users to manually clear saved passwords and disable browser password manager features for affected applications
• Consider implementing additional authentication factors to reduce reliance on password-only authentication

<!-- Recommended HTML attribute configuration for password fields -->
<input type="password" name="password" autocomplete="new-password">
<!-- Or to completely disable autocomplete -->
<input type="password" name="password" autocomplete="off">