CVE-2024-48044 Overview
CVE-2024-48044 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 5.6.3. The plugin exposes functionality protected by incorrectly configured access control checks, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to invoke restricted actions. The issue is tracked under CWE-862: Missing Authorization and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected WordPress sites.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can bypass access control checks in the ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin and execute administrative operations reserved for higher-privileged roles.
Affected Products
- ShortPixel Image Optimizer WordPress plugin versions up to and including 5.6.3
- WordPress sites running shortpixel-image-optimiser with default configuration
- Any hosting environment where low-privileged WordPress accounts can authenticate to the plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-01 - CVE-2024-48044 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-48044
Vulnerability Analysis
The ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin exposes plugin actions without validating that the requesting user holds the correct WordPress capability. The plugin registers handlers that perform privileged operations but relies on incorrectly configured access control checks. Any authenticated user, including low-privileged roles such as Subscriber or Contributor, can reach these handlers over the network and trigger operations that should be restricted to administrators.
The attack requires network access and valid authentication, but no user interaction. Because the plugin operates on media assets and site configuration, unauthorized invocation can alter site state, expose internal data, or disrupt normal service. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the vendor-coordinated advisory.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862] on plugin action endpoints. The plugin verifies authentication but does not enforce capability-based checks such as current_user_can('manage_options') before executing sensitive operations. Access is granted based on session presence rather than role permissions.
Attack Vector
An attacker registers or compromises a low-privileged WordPress account. The attacker then issues HTTP requests to the vulnerable plugin action endpoints, typically through admin-ajax.php or WordPress REST routes registered by the plugin. Because the endpoints do not validate user capabilities, the plugin executes the requested operation with elevated effect.
No verified public exploit code is available at the time of writing. The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the Patchstack advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-48044
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing ShortPixel plugin action parameters from non-administrator accounts
- Changes to media library items or plugin configuration correlated with sessions belonging to Subscriber or Contributor accounts
- WordPress audit log entries showing plugin actions initiated by users lacking the manage_options capability
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a WordPress activity log that records the acting user role for every plugin AJAX or REST call, then alert on ShortPixel actions performed by non-admin roles
- Inspect web server access logs for repeated requests to ShortPixel plugin endpoints from a single low-privileged session
- Compare the installed plugin version against 5.6.3 across all WordPress instances during routine vulnerability scans
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on admin-ajax.php and REST API routes exposed by the plugin
- Monitor for creation of new WordPress user accounts followed by immediate plugin activity
- Track plugin configuration file changes and media processing jobs outside expected administrator working hours
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-48044
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin to a version later than 5.6.3 on every WordPress instance
- Audit existing WordPress user accounts and remove or downgrade any unnecessary low-privileged accounts
- Review recent plugin activity logs for actions initiated by non-administrator users
Patch Information
The vendor has released a fixed version of the plugin subsequent to 5.6.3. Site administrators should install the latest release available through the WordPress plugin repository. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the specific fixed version.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin until the update can be applied
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php via web application firewall rules that block ShortPixel action names from non-administrator sessions
- Disable open user registration and require administrator approval for new accounts to reduce the pool of authenticated attackers
# Update the plugin using WP-CLI
wp plugin update shortpixel-image-optimiser
# Verify installed version
wp plugin get shortpixel-image-optimiser --field=version
# If patching is not immediately possible, deactivate the plugin
wp plugin deactivate shortpixel-image-optimiser
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
