CVE-2025-59525: horilla XSS — Exploit & Fix

Description

Horilla is a free and open source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). Prior to version 1.4.0, improper sanitization across the application allows XSS via uploaded SVG (and via allowed <embed>), which can be chained to execute JavaScript whenever users view impacted content (e.g., announcements). This can result in admin account takeover. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.0.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.1

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

CWE-434 Unrestricted Upload

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
horilla	horilla	< 1.4.0

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/horilla-opensource/horilla/security/advisories/GHSA-rp5m-vpqr-vpvp

Exploits

https://github.com/Mmo-kali/CVE/blob/main/CVE-2025-59525/2025-08-Horilla_Vulnerability_2.pdf https://github.com/horilla-opensource/horilla/security/advisories/GHSA-rp5m-vpqr-vpvp

Other References

https://github.com/horilla-opensource/horilla/releases/tag/1.4.0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-59525? +

Horilla is a free and open source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). Prior to version 1.4.0, improper sanitization across the application allows XSS via uploaded SVG (and via allowed <embed>), which can be chained to execute JavaScript whenever users view impacted content (e.g., announcements). This can result in admin account takeover. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.0. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-59525? +

CVE-2025-59525 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.1 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-59525? +

CVE-2025-59525 affects products from horilla, specifically: horilla. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-59525? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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