CVE-2026-24036 is an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) identified in Horilla, a free and open-source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). Specifically, versions 1.4.0 and above up to but not including 1.5.0 expose unpublished job postings through the /recruitment/recruitment-details// endpoint without requiring any authentication. This endpoint returns sensitive information such as draft job titles, descriptions, and application links for unpublished roles. Because the endpoint is accessible over the network without credentials or user interaction, any unauthenticated attacker can retrieve internal hiring data that is meant to remain confidential until officially published. The exposure of draft job postings can lead to leakage of strategic hiring plans, internal recruitment workflows, and potentially sensitive organizational information. Although the vulnerability does not allow attackers to modify data or disrupt system availability, the confidentiality impact is significant. The issue was addressed and fixed in Horilla version 1.5.0. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the low complexity of exploitation and lack of authentication requirements make this a notable risk for organizations using affected versions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality impact.

For European organizations, the unauthorized disclosure of unpublished job postings can have several impacts. Confidentiality of internal hiring strategies and workforce planning may be compromised, potentially revealing sensitive business information to competitors or malicious actors. This could lead to reputational damage if candidates or the public become aware of internal drafts prematurely, causing confusion and undermining trust in the recruitment process. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the leakage of internal HR data could be leveraged in social engineering or targeted attacks against employees or the organization. Organizations in highly regulated sectors or those with strict data privacy requirements may face compliance risks if sensitive personnel information is exposed. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk profile, especially for organizations that have not updated to the patched version. The impact is primarily on confidentiality and organizational trust rather than operational disruption.

European organizations using Horilla versions 1.4.0 through 1.4.x should prioritize upgrading to version 1.5.0 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, organizations should implement network-level access controls to restrict access to the /recruitment/recruitment-details// endpoint, such as IP whitelisting or VPN-only access. Additionally, web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block unauthorized requests targeting this endpoint. Organizations should audit their current HRMS deployment to identify any exposure of unpublished job postings and review logs for any suspicious access patterns. Internal policies should be updated to ensure that sensitive recruitment data is not exposed via public or unauthenticated interfaces. Finally, organizations should monitor vendor advisories and community forums for any emerging exploit reports and apply security patches promptly.