CVE-2025-49906 is a vulnerability identified in the StellarWP WPComplete plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 2.9.5.3. The core issue is a missing authorization check, meaning that certain plugin functionalities are accessible without proper access control enforcement. This allows unauthenticated attackers to invoke functions that should be restricted, potentially exposing sensitive information or internal plugin operations. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, and it can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity with a vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and limited confidentiality impact (C:L) without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025. The missing authorization likely stems from inadequate checks in the plugin's access control logic, allowing unauthorized access to certain functions or data. This type of vulnerability is critical to address because it can lead to unauthorized data disclosure or unauthorized actions within the plugin's context, potentially undermining the security posture of WordPress sites using WPComplete.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49906 depends on the extent to which WPComplete is used within their WordPress environments. The vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by allowing unauthorized access to plugin functionality, which could lead to exposure of sensitive data managed or tracked by WPComplete. Although integrity and availability are not directly impacted, unauthorized data access can still result in privacy violations, compliance issues (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as education, e-learning, or any industry relying on WPComplete for course or progress management may face increased risk. The lack of required authentication and user interaction makes exploitation easier, increasing the attack surface. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited immediate risk but highlights the need for proactive mitigation. Failure to address this vulnerability could also invite targeted attacks against European entities with valuable data or intellectual property managed via WPComplete.

1. Monitor official StellarWP channels and WordPress plugin repositories for patches addressing CVE-2025-49906 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to WPComplete plugin endpoints by implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules that limit access to trusted IP addresses or authenticated users only. 3. Conduct a thorough audit of WPComplete usage within your WordPress installations to identify sensitive data exposure risks and reduce unnecessary plugin permissions. 4. Employ principle of least privilege for WordPress user roles, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify WPComplete functionalities. 5. Use security plugins that can detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized API calls related to WPComplete. 6. Regularly review WordPress logs for unusual activity targeting the plugin. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of unauthorized access and encourage timely updates of all plugins. 8. Consider isolating critical WordPress instances or using containerization to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation.