Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-49901 is a critical authentication bypass in the WordPress Simple Link Directory plugin by quantumcloud. Sites running versions before 14.8.1 may allow unauthenticated attackers to abuse authentication paths. The public record gives high impact ratings but limited technical detail. No cited source states active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as urgent for any WordPress environment using this plugin. The vulnerability is critical because it may bypass login controls remotely. Prioritize rapid inventory and updating, but avoid assuming compromise without supporting evidence.
Technical view
The issue is classified as CWE-288, Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel, in qc-simple-link-directory. Affected versions are Simple Link Directory before 14.8.1. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8: network-accessible, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the Simple Link Directory plugin installed and running a version earlier than 14.8.1. The provided sources do not identify affected configurations beyond the plugin version boundary.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates remote exploitation may be possible without authentication or user interaction. However, the provided sources do not publish exploit details and do not confirm exploitation in the wild. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data.
Researcher notes
Public details are sparse. The record identifies CWE-288 and a pre-14.8.1 version boundary, but not the vulnerable endpoint, exploit method, or proof of exploitation. Avoid weaponization; focus on version validation, changelog review, and vendor advisories.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Simple Link Directory plugin.
- Update Simple Link Directory to version 14.8.1 or later where available.
- If updating is not possible, disable the plugin until vendor guidance is confirmed.
- Restrict administrative access and monitor WordPress authentication activity.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed plugin name is qc-simple-link-directory or Simple Link Directory.
- Check the installed plugin version on every WordPress instance.
- Flag any version earlier than 14.8.1 as vulnerable.
- Review site logs for unusual authentication or administrative activity.
- Track Patchstack and CVE records for updated remediation details.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-288: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-49901 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.