CVE-2026-24010 in horilla
Summary
by MITRE • 01/22/2026
Horilla is a free and open source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). A critical File Upload vulnerability in versions prior to 1.5.0, with Social Engineering, allows authenticated users to deploy phishing attacks. By uploading a malicious HTML file disguised as a profile picture, an attacker can create a convincing login page replica that steals user credentials. When a victim visits the uploaded file URL, they see an authentic-looking "Session Expired" message prompting them to re-authenticate. All entered credentials are captured and sent to the attacker's server, enabling Account Takeover. Version 1.5.0 patches the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2026
The CVE-2026-24010 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Horilla HRMS platform that demonstrates how seemingly benign file upload functionalities can be exploited for sophisticated social engineering attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.5.0 and exploits the lack of proper input validation and file type restrictions in the user profile picture upload feature. The flaw allows authenticated users to bypass security controls by uploading malicious HTML files that appear as legitimate profile images, creating a deceptive environment that can be used for credential theft. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which identifies insecure file upload handling as a significant security risk, particularly when applications fail to validate file contents and enforce strict type checking. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the application and its users, transforming legitimate access into a tool for unauthorized credential harvesting.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental weakness in the application's file validation process where HTML files are not properly filtered or rejected despite being uploaded through what appears to be a benign user profile update mechanism. When users upload what they believe to be a profile picture, the system accepts the file without adequate security checks, allowing the malicious HTML content to be stored and subsequently served to other users. The phishing page created by this attack is particularly effective because it mimics the legitimate application interface, including the "Session Expired" message that users encounter during normal application usage. This design choice makes the attack more convincing and increases the likelihood of credential compromise, as users are not suspicious about entering credentials into what appears to be a legitimate system prompt. The vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework category of T1566 for Phishing and T1531 for Account Access, demonstrating how legitimate application features can be subverted for malicious purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it enables full account takeover capabilities that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive employee data, payroll information, and other confidential HRMS resources. Attackers can leverage the compromised accounts to perform lateral movement within the organization, access additional systems, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader network access. The authentication bypass aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers do not need to perform additional reconnaissance or exploit other weaknesses to gain access to the system. The social engineering component significantly increases the attack success rate because users are more likely to trust prompts that appear to come from legitimate sources and match the expected user interface patterns of the application. Organizations using affected versions of Horilla face substantial risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2026-24010 requires immediate implementation of version 1.5.0 which includes proper file type validation and content checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict file extension filtering, enforce MIME type validation, and perform content analysis to prevent HTML and script files from being stored or executed within the application. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper access controls to limit file upload capabilities to only necessary user roles, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious file uploads, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect anomalous file upload patterns. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of verifying file types and being cautious when encountering unexpected authentication prompts, even when they appear to come from legitimate sources. The fix addresses the core issue by ensuring that uploaded files are properly validated and that malicious content cannot be executed within the application context, thereby preventing the creation of phishing pages that can harvest user credentials.