CVE-2025-59525 is a high-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting versions of the Horilla open-source Human Resource Management System (HRMS) prior to 1.4.0. Horilla allows users to upload SVG files and embed content within the application, such as announcements. Due to improper sanitization and neutralization of input during web page generation, malicious actors can upload crafted SVG files or use allowed <embed> tags to inject executable JavaScript code. When other users, including administrators, view the impacted content, the malicious script executes in their browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or full admin account takeover. The vulnerability stems from CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation) and CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). The issue has been patched in Horilla version 1.4.0. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 7.7, reflecting network exploitable, no authentication or user interaction required, and a high impact on integrity and confidentiality due to potential admin account compromise. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered critical for affected deployments.

For European organizations using Horilla HRMS versions prior to 1.4.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. HRMS platforms contain sensitive employee data including personal identification, payroll, and organizational structure information. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain administrative privileges, leading to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or disruption of HR operations. This could result in data breaches violating GDPR regulations, causing legal penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, compromised admin accounts could be leveraged to pivot within the corporate network, increasing the risk of broader enterprise compromise. The ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) elevates the threat level, especially in environments where untrusted users can upload content or where internal users might be targeted via social engineering. European organizations with regulatory compliance obligations and strict data privacy requirements are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of such an attack.

Organizations should immediately upgrade Horilla to version 1.4.0 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Until the upgrade is possible, implement strict controls on file uploads, especially SVG and embedded content, by disabling or restricting these features. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block malicious scripts in SVG or embedded content. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on all user-uploaded files and embedded content, ensuring that scripts cannot be executed. Limit the permissions of users allowed to upload files, and monitor upload activity for anomalies. Additionally, implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution sources and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. Regularly audit HRMS logs for suspicious activity and educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content within the HRMS platform.