CVE-2025-62970 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability in the Link Whisper Free plugin developed by Spencer Haws, affecting versions up to and including 0.8.8. The vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass authorization checks. This means that certain plugin functionalities or data, which should be restricted to authorized users, may be accessible to anyone without authentication. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), with an attack vector of network (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), with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication, increasing its exploitability, but the impact is limited to confidentiality, suggesting exposure of some sensitive data or information leakage rather than system compromise or data modification. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, and no patches or mitigations have been officially released yet. The vulnerability affects WordPress sites using the Link Whisper Free plugin, which is a tool designed to assist with internal linking for SEO purposes. The missing authorization could allow attackers to access or retrieve data intended to be restricted, potentially exposing site structure or SEO-related information.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive SEO or site structure information managed by the Link Whisper Free plugin. While this does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, exposure of internal linking data could assist attackers in reconnaissance activities, facilitating further targeted attacks such as phishing or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Organizations relying heavily on SEO and digital marketing may face reputational risks if sensitive site information is leaked. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without authentication increases risk, especially for public-facing WordPress sites. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and limited impact on critical systems reduce immediate threat levels. Still, organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly those with high web presence or sensitive content management needs.

Until an official patch is released, European organizations should implement strict access control measures at the web server or application firewall level to restrict access to plugin-specific endpoints or functionalities. Monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns targeting Link Whisper plugin resources can help detect exploitation attempts. Disabling or uninstalling the Link Whisper Free plugin temporarily can eliminate exposure if SEO functionality is not critical. Organizations should subscribe to vendor or security mailing lists to receive timely updates and apply patches immediately upon release. Additionally, conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins and minimizing the use of free or unverified plugins can reduce exposure to similar vulnerabilities. Employing a web application firewall (WAF) with custom rules to block unauthorized access attempts to plugin-related URLs is recommended. Finally, educating site administrators about the risks of missing authorization vulnerabilities and enforcing the principle of least privilege for WordPress user roles can mitigate potential damage.