CVE-2026-46395 Details
Description
HAX CMS helps manage microsite universe with PHP or NodeJs backends. Prior to version 26.0.0, the `hmacBase64()` function in the HAXcms Node.js backend contains two critical cryptographic implementation errors that together allow any unauthenticated attacker to extract the system’s private signing key and forge arbitrary admin-level JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) allowing them to get full admin access with a single HTTP request. First, the function passes the literal string "0" as the HMAC signing key instead of the key parameter, making every HAXcms instance compute identical HMACs for the same input. Then, after computing the HMAC, the function concatenates the real key parameter which is "this.privateKey + this.salt", the system’s master signing secret is directly onto the output. The combined buffer is base64-encoded and returned as the token. Every base64url token produced has the same structure: 32 bytes HMAC keyed with "0" and N bytes of `privateKey+salt`. An attacker base64-decodes any token, discards the first 32 bytes, and reads the private key directly. The `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint is unauthenticated and returns multiple tokens generated by this function. A single GET request to this endpoint exposes the private key. The PHP backend implements this function correctly with the actual key and returns only the hash. The PHP version produces 44-character tokens whereas the broken Node.js version produces 139+ character tokens. Version 26.0.0 fixes the issue.
A critical vulnerability exists in HAX CMS versions through 25.0.0 in the Node.js backend. The issue arises from the `hmacBase64()` function, which contains two significant cryptographic flaws. Firstly, it uses a hardcoded HMAC key, leading to identical HMAC outputs across different instances. Secondly, the function appends the system's private signing key and salt to the output, allowing attackers to extract the private key and forge admin-level JSON Web Tokens (JWTs). The unauthenticated `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint exposes the private key, which can be used to gain full admin access with a single HTTP request.
Users should update to HAX CMS version 26.0.0 or later, where this vulnerability has been fixed.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
Volerion
Assessed Jun 5, 2026CISA-ADP
Assessed Jun 5, 2026References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
By selecting these links, you will be leaving this site. These are references gathered from the official CVE record and are not endorsed by Volerion.
| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://github.com/haxtheweb/issues/security/advisories/GHSA-6c8g-9hfh-pq5h | CISA-ADP | AdvisoryExploitRemedyVendor |
| https://github.com/haxtheweb/issues/security/advisories/GHSA-6c8g-9hfh-pq5h | [email protected] | AdvisoryExploitRemedyVendor |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-200 | Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor | [email protected] |
| CWE-321 | Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key | [email protected] |
| CWE-327 | Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| HAX CMS | <= 25.0.0 (semver) |
CPE
Remediation
| |
Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | [email protected] |
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Jun 5, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Jun 5, 2026 | New CVE Received | [email protected] |
Volerion