CVE-2025-49884 Overview
CVE-2025-49884 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Internal Linking of Related Contents WordPress plugin by alexvtn. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.1.8. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to reach functionality that should require elevated privileges. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts data integrity and availability on affected WordPress sites.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can invoke plugin functionality lacking proper authorization checks, leading to limited data tampering and availability impact on WordPress installations running internal-linking-of-related-contents through version 1.1.8.
Affected Products
- alexvtn Internal Linking of Related Contents plugin for WordPress
- Plugin slug: internal-linking-of-related-contents
- All versions from initial release through 1.1.8
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-16 - CVE-2025-49884 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-49884
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the Internal Linking of Related Contents WordPress plugin. The plugin exposes functionality without validating whether the requesting user holds the required capability or role. This category of flaw, tracked under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization, occurs when code paths execute privileged operations without confirming the caller's permission level.
The issue is classified as broken access control. WordPress plugins typically enforce access using current_user_can() capability checks or nonce validation on AJAX and REST endpoints. When these checks are absent or misconfigured, any network-accessible client can invoke the underlying handlers. The Patchstack advisory categorizes this as an incorrectly configured access control security level.
The attack requires no authentication and no user interaction. Impact is limited to integrity and availability rather than confidentiality, indicating the affected endpoints modify or disrupt plugin state rather than expose sensitive data.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of proper capability or nonce validation on one or more plugin request handlers through version 1.1.8. Plugin code paths intended for administrative or editorial use are reachable by anonymous callers.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress endpoints exposed by the plugin. Because the network attack vector requires no privileges and no user interaction, exploitation can be scripted at scale against WordPress sites running the affected plugin. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for endpoint-level technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49884
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to internal link mappings or related-content configuration stored by the plugin
- HTTP POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions
- Access log entries referencing internal-linking-of-related-contents handlers from anonymous IPs
- Presence of plugin version 1.1.8 or earlier in wp-content/plugins/internal-linking-of-related-contents/
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress installations and identify sites running internal-linking-of-related-contents version 1.1.8 or earlier
- Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect requests to plugin AJAX actions and block unauthenticated invocations
- Correlate anonymous requests to plugin endpoints with subsequent database changes to plugin option tables
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture option changes, post metadata updates, and plugin setting modifications
- Alert on high-frequency requests to admin-ajax.php with action parameters referencing the plugin
- Monitor plugin directory integrity and file modification timestamps for unauthorized changes
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49884
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running internal-linking-of-related-contents version 1.1.8 or earlier
- Deactivate and remove the plugin if a patched release is unavailable in your environment
- Review WordPress option tables and post metadata for unauthorized modifications introduced by the plugin
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php at the WAF layer where feasible
Patch Information
The advisory lists affected versions from n/a through <= 1.1.8. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for the current fixed version and upgrade guidance. Apply the vendor update as soon as it is available in your WordPress plugin repository.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the internal-linking-of-related-contents plugin until a patched release is applied
- Implement WAF rules blocking unauthenticated requests to the plugin's AJAX actions
- Enforce IP allowlisting on /wp-admin/ for administrative networks only
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
