CVE-2024-47637 in LiteSpeed Cache Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Relative Path Traversal vulnerability in LiteSpeed Technologies LiteSpeed Cache litespeed-cache allows Path Traversal.This issue affects LiteSpeed Cache: from n/a through <= 6.4.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47637 represents a critical relative path traversal flaw within LiteSpeed Technologies LiteSpeed Cache plugin version 6.4.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the litespeed-cache component and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied paths before processing them. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate file paths through relative references, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories on the web server. The issue specifically affects the plugin's handling of file operations where relative path references are not adequately constrained or normalized, creating opportunities for malicious actors to traverse the file system hierarchy beyond intended boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the LiteSpeed Cache plugin processes user-controllable input that contains relative path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ characters. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file access as it can potentially allow attackers to read configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive system information that may be stored within the web server's file structure. The relative path traversal mechanism exploits the plugin's failure to validate or sanitize file path inputs, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within the affected system.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to web server security and data integrity within environments using LiteSpeed Cache plugin versions up to and including 6.4.1. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access sensitive files such as wp-config.php, .htaccess files, or other configuration artifacts that contain database credentials, API keys, or other confidential information. The impact extends to potential denial of service conditions if attackers can manipulate the cache system to access or corrupt critical system files, as well as to full system compromise if the web server has elevated privileges or if the cache system can be leveraged to execute malicious code. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations that utilize LiteSpeed Cache, making it a significant concern for web administrators managing content management systems where caching mechanisms are integral to performance optimization.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-47637 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 6.4.2 or later, which contain patches addressing the path traversal vulnerability. System administrators must implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious path sequences from being processed by the cache system. Additional protective measures include restricting file system permissions for the web server, implementing proper access controls, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block known path traversal attack patterns. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access demonstrates its potential for both privilege escalation and data exfiltration scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all components of the web application stack remain protected against similar path traversal vulnerabilities and that proper security hardening practices are maintained across the entire infrastructure.