CVE-2025-9982 is a vulnerability identified in OpenSolution's QuickCMS version 6.8, categorized under CWE-256, which pertains to the plaintext storage of passwords. Specifically, the issue arises because sensitive administrator credentials are hardcoded and stored in plaintext within a configuration file accessible on the server. This design flaw means that any attacker who gains access to the source code repository or the server's file system can directly retrieve these credentials without needing to bypass authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability allows for potential privilege escalation since the attacker can use the exposed credentials to gain administrative control over the CMS, potentially leading to unauthorized content modification, data leakage, or further lateral movement within the network. The CVSS v4.0 score is 6.9 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local or file system access (Attack Vector: Local), low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction needed, but with a high impact on integrity. The vendor was notified early but has not responded with detailed information or patches, and only version 6.8 has been confirmed vulnerable, leaving uncertainty about other versions. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. The lack of encryption or secure storage mechanisms for credentials is a fundamental security oversight, increasing risk especially in environments where server access controls are weak or compromised.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of administrative credentials within affected QuickCMS installations. If attackers gain file system access—through other vulnerabilities, insider threats, or misconfigurations—they can extract plaintext admin passwords, leading to full administrative control over the CMS. This can result in unauthorized content changes, defacement, data theft, or use of the CMS as a pivot point for broader network compromise. The impact is heightened in sectors relying heavily on web content management systems for critical operations, such as government portals, healthcare, and financial services. Additionally, the absence of vendor patches increases exposure duration, and organizations may face compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability but can indirectly cause service disruption through malicious administrative actions.

European organizations using QuickCMS 6.8 should immediately audit their server environments to ensure strict access controls limit file system and source code access to trusted personnel only. Employ file system permissions to restrict access to configuration files containing credentials. Where possible, replace plaintext credentials with securely hashed or encrypted storage mechanisms, or migrate to a CMS version or alternative product that does not store credentials in plaintext. Implement monitoring and alerting for unauthorized access attempts to configuration files. Conduct regular security assessments to identify any lateral movement or privilege escalation attempts. If feasible, isolate QuickCMS servers within segmented network zones to reduce exposure. Organizations should also consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect suspicious activity and prepare incident response plans specific to CMS compromise scenarios. Finally, maintain communication with the vendor for any forthcoming patches or advisories and consider engaging third-party security experts to assist with remediation.