CVE-2023-49746 in SpeedyCache Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2023
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Softaculous Team SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance.This issue affects SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance: from n/a through 1.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2023
The CVE-2023-49746 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw within the SpeedyCache plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.1.2. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery conditions where attackers can manipulate the target of a request to access internal systems or resources that should remain protected. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's request handling mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that can traverse internal network boundaries and access restricted resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the SpeedyCache plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct HTTP requests to external services or internal endpoints. Attackers can leverage this weakness to make unauthorized requests to internal systems, potentially accessing sensitive data, bypassing authentication mechanisms, or even gaining access to backend services that are normally isolated from external networks. The flaw typically manifests when the plugin accepts parameters that should be restricted or validated, enabling attackers to redirect requests to internal IP addresses, ports, or services that are not intended to be publicly accessible. This creates a significant risk for WordPress installations where the plugin is deployed, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring administrative privileges or advanced authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. An attacker could use this vulnerability to map internal network topology, identify running services on internal hosts, or even attempt to exploit other vulnerabilities within the internal network. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where WordPress installations are hosted within corporate networks or cloud environments where internal services are not properly isolated. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1046, this vulnerability enables adversaries to discover and map network services, while technique T1071.004 relates to the use of application layer protocols for communication, which can be leveraged through this SSRF weakness to access internal resources. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a gateway to internal systems that should remain protected from external access, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in environments with complex network architectures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49746 should focus on immediate patching of the SpeedyCache plugin to version 1.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the server-side request forgery vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to prevent outbound requests to internal network addresses from web servers, effectively blocking potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers, including application-level filtering of user-supplied parameters that are used in HTTP request construction. Security teams should monitor for suspicious network activity and implement web application firewalls that can detect and block potentially malicious SSRF attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access controls and network segmentation, as it demonstrates how a single vulnerable plugin can create an attack surface that allows access to internal systems. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that could provide similar attack vectors for lateral movement within their network infrastructure.