CVE-2026-46401 in haxcms-php
Summary
by MITRE • 06/05/2026
HAX CMS helps manage microsite universe with PHP or NodeJs backends. Versions prior to 26.0.0 suffer from an improper session termination vulnerability where authentication tokens remain valid after user logout. This allows attackers who obtain valid tokens to maintain persistent access to authenticated CMS functionality, bypassing the intended session termination mechanism and enabling unauthorized access to CMS metadata and administrative functions. Version 26.0.0 fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The HAX CMS represents a sophisticated content management solution designed to handle complex microsite ecosystems through both php and nodejs backend architectures. This platform serves as a critical infrastructure component for organizations managing multiple digital properties, requiring robust session management to protect against unauthorized access to administrative functions and sensitive metadata. The vulnerability under discussion specifically targets the session termination mechanism that should invalidate authentication tokens upon user logout, creating a persistent security gap that undermines the fundamental security model of the system.
This improper session termination vulnerability stems from a failure in the backend session management logic where authentication tokens are not properly invalidated when users log out of the system. The flaw exists in versions prior to 26.0.0 and manifests as a persistence issue where tokens remain valid in the session store even after the logout process has been initiated. This creates a scenario where attackers who have obtained valid authentication tokens can continue to access authenticated CMS functionality without requiring additional authentication, effectively bypassing the intended session termination mechanism that should invalidate all active sessions upon user logout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete compromise of the CMS administrative environment. Attackers with persistent access can manipulate content, modify user permissions, access sensitive metadata, and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. This vulnerability directly violates security principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the CMS infrastructure, particularly concerning the nodejs backend implementations where session management complexities may be more pronounced. The attack surface is further expanded as these tokens could potentially be harvested through various means including network sniffing, cross-site scripting attacks, or compromised user credentials.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-613, which specifically addresses insufficient session expiration, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through session hijacking. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the authentication and session management controls that should be implemented according to industry best practices for web application security. Organizations relying on HAX CMS versions prior to 26.0.0 face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access, data manipulation, and potential full system compromise. The fix implemented in version 26.0.0 addresses the root cause by ensuring proper session invalidation and token destruction upon logout events, thereby restoring the intended security boundaries and protecting against persistent unauthorized access attempts.