CVE-2026-46398 in haxcms-php
Summary
by MITRE • 06/05/2026
HAX CMS helps manage microsite universe with PHP or NodeJs backends. Starting in version 25.0.0 and prior to version 26.0.0, the haxcms_refresh_token cookie is set without the Secure flag. This allows it to be transmitted over unencrypted HTTP, making it vulnerable to theft via packet sniffing on the network. Version 26.0.0 fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The haxcms_refresh_token cookie vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the HAX CMS platform that affects versions between 25.0.0 and 25.9.9. This vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of session cookies within the web application's backend infrastructure. The refresh token cookie lacks the Secure flag attribute that is essential for protecting sensitive authentication tokens from being intercepted during transmission. This configuration oversight creates a significant attack surface that directly violates security best practices established by industry standards including CWE-614 and the OWASP Top Ten. The absence of the Secure flag means that the cookie can be transmitted over unencrypted HTTP connections, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and packet sniffing operations that occur on shared network segments or public Wi-Fi networks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the CMS platform, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to microsite management functionalities.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the cookie setting mechanism where the web application fails to properly configure the Secure flag during the refresh token cookie creation process. This misconfiguration allows the cookie to be sent over both HTTP and HTTPS connections without discrimination, creating an avenue for credential theft. The vulnerability operates at the network transport layer where unencrypted communication channels can be monitored and captured by malicious actors using standard network analysis tools. Attackers can leverage this weakness to capture the refresh token cookie during normal user interaction with the CMS platform, particularly when users access the system over unsecured network connections. The impact extends beyond simple session hijacking as the refresh token can be used to obtain new access tokens and maintain persistent unauthorized access to the CMS administration interface. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves credential harvesting through network sniffing and packet capture operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations utilizing HAX CMS with affected versions. System administrators and content managers who access the CMS platform over unencrypted connections become vulnerable to session hijacking attacks that can lead to complete compromise of the microsite management environment. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that accesses the platform through HTTP connections, regardless of whether they are internal employees or external users. Organizations may experience unauthorized content modifications, data breaches, and potential exfiltration of sensitive information stored within the CMS. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where users access the platform from public networks or shared computing environments where network traffic interception is more likely. Security audits and compliance assessments would likely identify this as a critical finding that violates standard security controls and regulatory requirements for protecting sensitive data and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure cookie implementation practices that should be addressed immediately through proper configuration updates and security hardening measures.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires updating the HAX CMS platform to version 26.0.0 or later, which properly implements the Secure flag for the refresh token cookie. Organizations should also conduct immediate security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all users are accessing the platform through secure HTTPS connections. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious authentication activities and consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to mitigate the risk of credential compromise. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that the refresh token cookie is only transmitted over encrypted connections, thereby preventing interception attacks. Security teams should also review other cookies within the application to ensure they are properly configured with appropriate security flags including HttpOnly and SameSite attributes to provide comprehensive protection against cross-site scripting and session hijacking attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cookie security configuration in web applications and the potential consequences of neglecting fundamental security controls that protect authentication tokens and session data.