Overview
A significant security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-9982, has been discovered in QuickCMS version 6.8. This flaw involves the storage of sensitive admin credentials in plaintext within a configuration file. An attacker who gains access to either the source code or the server’s file system can retrieve these credentials, potentially leading to privilege escalation and complete compromise of the affected QuickCMS installation.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of hardcoded administrator credentials directly within a configuration file. Instead of utilizing secure hashing and salting techniques, the username and password for the administrator account are stored in plaintext. This makes them easily accessible to anyone with sufficient access to the server or codebase.
While only version 6.8 has been tested and confirmed vulnerable, the potential exists for earlier or later versions to also be affected. It is crucial to assess your specific QuickCMS installation.
Example (illustrative and may not be the exact implementation):
// config.php
$admin_username = "admin";
$admin_password = "password123"; // Plaintext password!
CVSS Analysis
Due to lack of vendor response the CVSS score is unavailable.
A CVSS score will be assigned once a formal vulnerability analysis is completed and vendor details are released.
Possible Impact
The potential impact of CVE-2025-9982 is severe. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to:
- Gain full administrative control over the QuickCMS website.
- Modify website content, inject malicious code, or deface the site.
- Access and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data stored within the CMS.
- Compromise other systems or users connected to the compromised QuickCMS installation.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
Given the lack of official patch information from the vendor, the following mitigation steps are recommended:
- Immediately Audit Your Installation: If you are running QuickCMS 6.8, carefully examine your configuration files for any instances of plaintext credentials.
- Strongly Consider Migration: If possible, migrate to a different CMS platform with a better security track record.
- Implement Access Controls: Restrict access to the server file system and codebase to only authorized personnel.
- Change Default Credentials (If Possible): If the application allows changing the admin credentials through the web interface, immediately change them to strong, unique passwords. If the credentials are only in the config files, consider changing them, but this might not be a sufficient fix.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF with rules to detect and block common attack vectors targeting QuickCMS.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Closely monitor your QuickCMS installation for any signs of unauthorized access or malicious activity.
Important Note: Changing credentials directly in the configuration file might not fully mitigate the risk if the core code still relies on accessing these credentials in plaintext. A thorough code review is necessary to ensure complete remediation.
