# CVE-2025-54137: HAX CMS NodeJS default secrets and hardcoded credentials

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-54137-hax-cms-nodejs-default-secrets-and-hardcoded-credentials  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-07-21. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-54137 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2025-07-21

HAX CMS is a content management system used to create and manage websites. The NodeJS version of the application is distributed with hardcoded default login credentials and cryptographic keys that cannot be changed through the user interface. An attacker can use these publicly available defaults to gain unauthorized access to unconfigured instances, read sensitive data, modify content, and launch further attacks against the system.

Technologies: [@haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/haxtheweb-haxcms-nodejs). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-54137 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-54137 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-54137?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 21 July 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=11.0.10.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-54137?** Yes. @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm): upgrade to 11.0.10 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-54137 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-54137?** Check whether you run @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs (npm): upgrade to 11.0.10 or later

  ```sh
  npm install @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs@11.0.10
  ```


## Technical details

This vulnerability stems from the use of default, hardcoded credentials and cryptographic keys in the HAX CMS NodeJS implementation (CWE-1392, CWE-1393, CWE-1394). The HAXCMS.js and HAXCMSClass components contain fixed credentials for user and superuser accounts, as well as default JWT private keys. The attack vector is network-based with no authentication required and no user interaction needed. An unauthenticated remote attacker can obtain these secrets from the public haxtheweb GitHub repositories and use them to authenticate to unconfigured self-hosted instances without modification of default secrets. The attacker can then modify website content, access sensitive information, and potentially escalate attacks. The vulnerability was patched in version 11.0.10; versions 11.0.0 and earlier are affected.

## Affected products

- haxtheweb @haxtheweb/haxcms-nodejs <=11.0.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2025-54137
- GHSA-5fpv-5qvh-7cf3

## Timeline

- 2025-07-21: disclosed: Advisory published
- 2025-07-21: patched: Version 11.0.10 available
- 2025-07-22: kev added: CVE-2025-54137 published by NVD

## References

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

## Related threats

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- [HAX CMS private key disclosure and JWT forgery in Node.js backend](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-46395-hax-cms-private-key-disclosure-and-jwt-forgery-in-node-js-backend)