Digital security is a growing concern for websites of all sizes. Recently, a vulnerability was discovered in LiteSpeed Cache, one of the most popular WordPress plugins, used on over 5 million websites.
This security flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to take complete control of vulnerable websites, putting sensitive data and the integrity of online operations at risk.
In this post we explain clearly and didactically what this vulnerability represents, how it can affect your company and what should be done to mitigate the risks.
The severity of the vulnerability in LiteSpeed Cache
The vulnerability identified in LiteSpeed Cache, classified as CVE-2024-28000 , is extremely serious, with a score of 9.8 on CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System).
This classification indicates that the flaw allows anyone part time data without authentication to gain administrator privileges on WordPress sites that use vulnerable versions of the plugin. With this level of access, attackers can install malicious plugins, change critical settings, redirect traffic to fraudulent sites, distribute malware, and even steal user data.
The core of the flaw lies in the plugin’s user simulation function, which uses a weak security hash. This hash is generated from predictable values and is not cryptographically secure, making brute-force attacks easier. In other words, the vulnerability can be exploited by iterating through all possible combinations of the hash, which eventually allows the attacker to gain full control of the site.
What is the impact on companies?
For business managers who do not have deep technical knowledge, the severity of this vulnerability may not be immediately apparent. However, the consequences of a successful exploit are severe.
An attack can result in data loss, service disruption, damage to brand reputation, and high costs for recovering compromised systems. In addition, legal liability for the exposure of sensitive data can result in fines and penalties, especially in regulated industries such as finance or healthcare.
LiteSpeed Cache is widely used by websites that rely on high performance, such as e-commerce sites and news portals. This plugin’s ability to speed up web page delivery has made it an essential tool for many businesses, but its popularity has also made it an attractive target for cybercriminals.