Introduction
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-50550 [1] [2] [4] [6] [7], has been discovered in the LiteSpeed Cache plugin for WordPress, which is installed on over 6 million websites. This flaw, categorized under CWE-266, involves incorrect privilege assignment [3] [5], allowing unauthorized users to gain administrator-level access [1] [6]. The vulnerability affects LiteSpeed Cache versions up to 6.5.1 and poses significant risks to system confidentiality, integrity [2] [3] [8], and availability [2] [3] [8].
Description
A vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50550 in the LiteSpeed Cache plugin for WordPress [1] [2], which has over 6 million active installations [1], involves an incorrect privilege assignment issue categorized as CWE-266. This security flaw allows unauthorized users to escalate their privileges [3], enabling unauthenticated visitors to gain administrator-level access by exploiting a weakness in the plugin’s role simulation feature [1], specifically within the isrolesimulation function [6]. This critical security concern affects LiteSpeed Cache versions from earlier releases up to 6.5.1 and poses significant risks to the confidentiality, integrity [2] [3] [8], and availability of affected systems [3], all rated as High [2] [8]. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1, indicating substantial risks, with specific vector metrics being AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
The vulnerability arises from weak security hash checks and improper privilege assignments that can be exploited under specific configurations, such as enabling the Crawler feature with a run duration between 2500-4000 seconds [1], setting the server load limit to 0 [1], and activating role simulation for users with administrator privileges [1]. The previous implementation of hash generation utilized the mt_srand function, which limited the randomness of hash values and has been noted as insufficient for security purposes [6]. The ease of brute-forcing these hashes raises considerable security concerns [1], and there is one public proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit available on GitHub [5].
In response to this vulnerability, the LiteSpeed development team has temporarily removed the role simulation feature and improved the security of hash generation. They plan to implement more robust random value generators [1], such as the random_bytes function [6], in future updates to enhance protection against brute-force attacks [1]. Users are urged to update to version 6.5.2 or higher [1] [4], released on October 17, 2024 [6], to effectively address the privilege escalation issue and secure their WordPress sites [3]. Additionally, administrators should review the site’s user list for any unfamiliar accounts with administrator privileges and optimize plugin settings for enhanced security. If an update is not immediately available, it is advisable to consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to LiteSpeed Cache until a patch is released [8].
The vulnerability was published and updated on October 29, 2024 [2], underscoring the urgency of addressing this critical issue. Continuous monitoring for updates and adherence to best practices in vulnerability management are essential for maintaining robust security measures [3]. Additional recommended measures include implementing network segmentation [8], access controls [6] [8], monitoring systems for suspicious activities [8], regularly auditing user privileges [8], and applying the principle of least privilege across all systems and applications [8]. A curated list of external links provides further information [5], practical solutions [5], and tools related to CVE-2024-50550 [5], along with a history of changes made to this vulnerability over time [5], which can help in understanding its evolution and impact [5]. The EPSS Score for this vulnerability is set at 0.04% (Percentile: 9.9%) [8].
Conclusion
The CVE-2024-50550 vulnerability in the LiteSpeed Cache plugin represents a significant threat to WordPress sites, necessitating immediate attention and action. Users must update to the latest version to mitigate risks and protect their systems. Future updates will focus on enhancing security measures, including improved random value generation. Administrators should remain vigilant, regularly audit user privileges [8], and adhere to best practices in security management to safeguard against potential exploits.
References
[1] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/litespeed-cache-plugin-flaw-admin/
[2] https://www.tenable.com/cve/CVE-2024-50550
[3] https://www.ogma.in/analyzing-and-mitigating-cve-2024-50550-privilege-escalation-in-litespeed-cache
[4] https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2024/10/29/crawler-patch-for-wordpress-cache-plugin/
[5] https://cvefeed.io/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-50550
[6] https://www.shadowtek.com.au/rare-case-of-privilege-escalation-patched-in-litespeed-cache-plugin/
[7] https://support2.windriver.com/index.php?page=cve&on=view&id=CVE-2024-50550
[8] https://feedly.com/cve/CVE-2024-50550
