CVE-2025-49375 is a missing authorization vulnerability identified in cozythemes HomeLancer, a product used for freelancing or project management platforms. The flaw exists in versions up to and including 1.0.1, where access control mechanisms are incorrectly configured, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L) to perform unauthorized actions remotely (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability affects the security levels that govern access control, effectively enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive functions or data. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), indicating that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely, increasing its risk profile. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the flaw suggests that attackers could develop exploits rapidly. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation. Cozythemes HomeLancer’s role in managing freelance projects or client data means that exploitation could result in data leakage, unauthorized modifications, or service disruptions, severely impacting business operations.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2025-49375 could lead to significant data breaches involving client or project information, unauthorized changes to project details or financial data, and potential service outages. This would damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and cause financial losses. Industries relying on freelance platforms for critical project management or client interactions, such as IT services, creative agencies, and consulting firms, are particularly vulnerable. The remote exploitability and lack of user interaction mean attackers can operate stealthily and at scale, increasing the risk of widespread compromise. Additionally, the high integrity impact could allow attackers to manipulate project deliverables or financial transactions, undermining trust and contractual obligations. The availability impact could disrupt business continuity, especially for organizations heavily dependent on HomeLancer for daily operations.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include restricting network access to HomeLancer instances via firewalls or VPNs to trusted users only, enforcing strict user privilege audits to minimize permissions, and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce account compromise risk. Monitoring and logging access to sensitive functions should be enhanced to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also isolate HomeLancer environments from critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement. Regular backups of project data are essential to recover from potential integrity or availability attacks. Engaging with cozythemes for timely patch releases and applying updates as soon as available is critical. Security teams should conduct penetration testing focused on access control weaknesses and educate users about the risks of privilege misuse. Finally, consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block suspicious requests targeting access control endpoints.