CVE-2025-9982 identifies a security weakness in OpenSolution's QuickCMS version 6.8, where sensitive administrator credentials are hardcoded and stored in plaintext within a configuration file on the server. This vulnerability falls under CWE-256, which concerns the plaintext storage of passwords or sensitive data. Because the credentials are stored unencrypted, any attacker who gains access to the server's file system or the source code repository can easily extract these credentials. This can lead to privilege escalation, allowing the attacker to assume administrative control over the CMS, potentially compromising the entire web application and any data it manages. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction but does require local or file system access, limiting the attack vector to scenarios where an attacker already has some level of access to the server environment. The vendor has not provided detailed information about affected version ranges beyond version 6.8, nor have they released patches or mitigations. The CVSS 4.0 score of 6.9 reflects a medium severity, primarily due to the low attack vector (local access required) but high impact on integrity if exploited. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. Organizations using QuickCMS 6.8 should be aware of this risk, especially if server access controls are weak or if the CMS is deployed in environments with multiple users or third-party access.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant if exploited. Unauthorized access to plaintext admin credentials can lead to full administrative control over the CMS, allowing attackers to modify website content, inject malicious code, steal sensitive data, or disrupt services. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal or business-critical information, and cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR. The requirement for local or file system access means that the vulnerability is more likely to be exploited in scenarios where attackers have already penetrated perimeter defenses or have insider access. Organizations with shared hosting environments or insufficient server hardening are particularly at risk. The lack of vendor patches increases exposure time, necessitating proactive mitigation. The impact on availability is moderate since attackers could deface or disable the CMS, while confidentiality and integrity impacts are high due to credential exposure and potential privilege escalation.

European organizations should implement strict access controls to limit file system and source code access to trusted personnel only. Employing file system permissions that restrict read access to configuration files is critical. Conduct thorough audits of all QuickCMS installations to identify plaintext credentials and replace them with securely stored secrets, such as environment variables or encrypted credential stores. If possible, upgrade to a newer, patched version of QuickCMS once available or consider alternative CMS platforms with better security practices. Implement monitoring and alerting for unauthorized file access or changes to configuration files. Use host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect suspicious activities on servers hosting QuickCMS. Additionally, enforce network segmentation to isolate CMS servers from less trusted network zones. Regularly review and rotate administrative credentials and consider multi-factor authentication for CMS access to reduce the risk of credential misuse. Finally, maintain backups and incident response plans tailored to CMS compromise scenarios.