medium CVSS 6.5 EPSS 0.44%

CVE-2025-49138·PHP vulnerability

HAX CMS PHP allows users to manage their microsite universe with a PHP backend. Prior to version 11.0.0, an authenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the HAXCMS saveOutline endpoint allows a low-privileged user to read arbitrary files on the server by manipulating the location field written into site.json. This enables attackers to exfiltrate sensitive system files such as /etc/passwd, application secrets, or configuration files accessible to the web server (www-data). The vulnerability stems from the way the HAXCMS backend handles the location field in the site's outline. When a user sends a POST request to /system/api/saveOutline, the backend stores the provided location value directly into the site.json file associated with the site, without validating or sanitizing the input. Later the location parameter is interpreted by the CMS to resolve and load the content for a given node. If the location field contains a relative path like `../../../etc/passwd`, the application will attempt to read and render that file. Version 11.0.0 fixes the issue.

Severity
medium
Software
PHP
Fixed in
11.0.0
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.44% — higher than 35% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Affected versions

Until: 11.0.0

Fixed in: 11.0.0

How to fix this CVE

HAXCMS PHP versions prior to 11.0.0 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the saveOutline endpoint that allows authenticated users to read arbitrary files from the server. Upgrade HAXCMS to version 11.0.0 or later, which implements proper input validation on the location field to prevent directory traversal attacks. Ensure all PHP dependencies are also updated to their latest versions.

sudo dnf update php php-common php-cli

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST /system/api/saveOutline HTTP/1.1.*location.*\.\./|POST.*saveOutline.*location.*%2e%2e%2f|POST.*saveOutline.*location.*etc%2fpasswd

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Implement WAF rules to block POST requests to /system/api/saveOutline containing path traversal patterns (../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f) in the location parameter, and enforce authentication checks before the endpoint is processed.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check HAXCMS version: grep -r '"version"' /path/to/haxcms/package.json or check vendor/haxtheweb/haxcms-php/composer.json for version field
  2. Verify PHP installation: php -v and confirm HAXCMS is installed in your web root (typically /var/www/html or /opt/haxcms)
  3. Search web server logs for POST requests to /system/api/saveOutline endpoint: grep -i 'saveOutline' /var/log/apache2/access.log or /var/log/nginx/access.log
  4. Confirm the fix by checking if HAXCMS version is 11.0.0 or higher and reviewing site.json files for suspicious relative path values in the location field

FAQ

What is CVE-2025-49138?

CVE-2025-49138 is a local file inclusion vulnerability in HAXCMS PHP that allows authenticated users to manipulate the location field in the saveOutline API endpoint to read sensitive files from the server, such as /etc/passwd or application configuration files.

Is CVE-2025-49138 being actively exploited?

No, according to CISA's KEV database, CVE-2025-49138 is not currently being actively exploited in the wild, and no public exploit code is available.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2025-49138?

HAXCMS PHP versions up to and including 10.x are affected; version 11.0.0 and later contain the fix.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2025-49138?

Run 'grep -r "version" /path/to/haxcms/package.json' or check the HAXCMS admin panel to confirm your version is below 11.0.0; if it is, your installation is vulnerable.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2025-49138?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed HAXCMS package versions against the NVD database. If HAXCMS is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2025-49138 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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