CVE-2026-24034 is a vulnerability categorized under CWE-434, indicating an unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types in the horilla open-source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). Specifically, in horilla versions prior to 1.5.0, the profile photo update functionality does not properly validate the file extension or the content-type of uploaded files. This lack of validation enables attackers to upload malicious files that can execute cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks when rendered in the application context. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L) and requires the attacker to have some privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent (C:L, I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). The vulnerability could allow an attacker to inject malicious scripts that steal session tokens, perform unauthorized actions, or manipulate user data within the HRMS environment. The issue was addressed in horilla version 1.5.0 by implementing proper validation checks on uploaded files, including verifying file extensions and content types to prevent dangerous file uploads. No public exploits have been reported to date, but the vulnerability poses a risk to organizations using affected versions, especially given the sensitive nature of HR data managed by horilla.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of HR data. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, unauthorized data manipulation, or phishing attacks within the HRMS platform, potentially exposing sensitive employee information. Given that HRMS systems often contain personal identifiable information (PII), payroll data, and organizational structure details, a breach could have regulatory implications under GDPR and damage organizational trust. The vulnerability requires some level of privilege, which may limit exposure to internal threat actors or compromised accounts. However, the lack of user interaction requirement means automated exploitation is feasible once access is obtained. Availability is not impacted, so operational disruption is unlikely. Organizations relying on horilla for HR management should consider this vulnerability a significant risk vector, especially in sectors with strict data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions.

The primary mitigation is to upgrade horilla to version 1.5.0 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Organizations unable to upgrade immediately should implement strict server-side validation of uploaded files, including: verifying file extensions against an allowlist of safe image formats (e.g., .jpg, .png), validating MIME types to ensure they match expected image content, and scanning uploaded files for embedded scripts or malicious payloads. Additionally, applying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can reduce the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources. Limiting file upload permissions to authenticated and authorized users reduces exposure. Monitoring logs for unusual file upload activity and conducting regular security assessments of the HRMS environment are recommended. Finally, educating users about phishing and social engineering risks related to XSS can help mitigate downstream attack vectors.