CVE-2025-49857 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the myCred plugin developed by WPExperts.io. The vulnerability arises from improperly configured access control security levels within the myCred plugin, which is widely used in WordPress environments to manage points, rewards, and user engagement systems. Specifically, the flaw allows an attacker with at least low-level privileges (PR:L) to exploit missing or insufficient authorization checks, enabling them to perform unauthorized actions that impact the integrity of the system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), meaning the exploit affects resources within the same security scope. The impact is limited to integrity (I:L), with no direct confidentiality (C:N) or availability (A:N) impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (June 17, 2025). The affected versions include all versions up to 2.9.4.2, with no specific version range provided. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with legitimate access to escalate privileges or manipulate point balances or reward configurations, potentially undermining trust in the system and causing unauthorized modifications to user data or reward states.

For European organizations, especially those relying on WordPress platforms with the myCred plugin for customer loyalty, gamification, or internal reward systems, this vulnerability poses a risk to data integrity and business processes. Attackers exploiting this flaw could manipulate reward points, alter user privileges, or perform unauthorized configuration changes, potentially leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and erosion of user trust. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the integrity impact could facilitate fraudulent activities or unauthorized privilege escalation within the affected systems. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, education, and community platforms that use myCred extensively may face operational disruptions or compliance challenges if unauthorized modifications go undetected. Given the plugin’s integration with WordPress, a widely used CMS in Europe, the risk is amplified in environments where access controls are not tightly managed or where multiple users have low-level privileges.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately audit all WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the myCred plugin, prioritizing updates or removal if not essential. 2) Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary, ensuring that only trusted users have access to functionalities that could be exploited via this vulnerability. 3) Monitor and log all administrative and user actions related to the myCred plugin, focusing on changes to points, rewards, and configuration settings to detect unauthorized activities promptly. 4) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting myCred endpoints, especially those attempting privilege escalation or unauthorized configuration changes. 5) Engage with WPExperts.io or trusted security vendors for early access to patches or security advisories, and apply updates as soon as they become available. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on access control mechanisms within WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization weaknesses proactively. 7) Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication and session management policies to reduce the risk of credential compromise.