Auth bypass in Horilla
CVE-2026-24038
Horilla is a free and open source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). In version 1.4.0, the OTP handling logic has a flawed equality check that can be bypassed. When an OTP expires, the server returns None, and if an attacker omits the otp field from their POST request, the user-supplied OTP is also None, causing the comparison user_otp == otp to pass. This allows an attacker to bypass two-factor authentication entirely without ever providing a valid OTP. If administrative accounts are targeted, it could lead to compromise of sensitive HR data, manipulation of employee records, and further system-wide abuse. This issue has been fixed in version 1.5.0.
Vulnerability class: Broken Authentication
EPSS: 0.005 (37.7th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.1 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
Affected products
- Horilla — versions 1.4.0
- Horilla-opensource Horilla — versions >= 1.4.0, < 1.5.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Exploit, Vendor Advisory)
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_MISC, Release Notes)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-24038?
- CVE-2026-24038 is a high-severity vulnerability in Horilla, classified under Improper Authentication. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2026-01-22.
- How severe is CVE-2026-24038?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.