If your site runs LiteSpeed Cache and the plugin version is below 7.8, an attacker can exploit a known vulnerability to gain elevated access to your
If your site runs LiteSpeed Cache and the plugin version is below 7.8, an attacker can exploit a known vulnerability to gain elevated access to your WordPress installation. The CVE-2026-3375 disclosure, published on 27 May 2026, confirms the flaw. A successful attack hands an unauthorised party administrative-level control over your site, its content, and any data it holds.
LiteSpeed Cache is one of the most widely installed WordPress caching plugins. If you or your developer added it to improve site speed and the update has not been applied, your site is exposed right now.
The CVSS score for this flaw is 7.2 out of 10, which NIST classifies as High severity, and every version of LiteSpeed Cache below 7.8 carries it. The fix is version 7.8, released and available through the WordPress plugin repository.
A CVSS score of 7.2 reflects a flaw that can be exploited without physical access to your server and without sophisticated tools. At this severity level, the realistic outcomes include an attacker injecting malicious code into your site, redirecting visitors to third-party destinations, stealing form data or login credentials, or using your server as a base for further attacks on other systems — any one of which carries reputational and commercial consequences that far outweigh the two minutes it takes to apply an update. The vulnerability type and full technical detail are recorded in the CVE record. For a business owner, the essential facts are these: the affected version range is every release below 7.8, the fix is available, and no workaround makes an unpatched installation safe.
Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins in the left-hand menu, and select Installed Plugins. Search for “LiteSpeed Cache” in the list. The version number appears beneath the plugin name.
If the version shown is anything below 7.8, update the plugin immediately. WordPress will usually display an “Update now” link directly in the plugins list if a newer version is available — click it. The update takes seconds and requires no technical knowledge. If you do not see an update prompt, go to Dashboard, then Updates, and check whether LiteSpeed Cache appears there; if it does, apply the update from that screen.
Once updated, confirm the version number in the Installed Plugins list reads 7.8 or higher. That confirms the vulnerability is patched on your site.
If your site is managed by a developer or agency, forward this post to them today and ask for written confirmation that the update has been applied. Plugin updates on managed sites are sometimes deferred, batched, or missed entirely during busy periods, so do not assume it has been done.
The window between public disclosure and active exploitation is often measured in days, sometimes hours. Attackers scan for sites running known vulnerable versions at scale, automatically, and your site does not need to be a high-profile target to be hit. Every plugin on your WordPress site is a potential entry point: developers find security flaws, disclose them responsibly, and release patches, but the patch only protects you if you apply it.
LiteSpeed Cache is installed on a very large number of WordPress sites, which makes it a priority target when a vulnerability is disclosed. The CVE record is now public, so anyone looking for vulnerable sites has the information they need to identify and probe unpatched installations.
The discipline required here is straightforward. Plugins should be updated as soon as security patches are released: when a High or Critical severity fix is available, it goes on the same day. Weekly update cycles and scheduled maintenance windows are reasonable for routine releases; for a security patch of this severity, anything slower is a calculated risk that most businesses would not consciously choose to take if they understood the exposure.
Some site owners defer updates out of concern about breaking something. For major version upgrades, where compatibility testing is sensible, that caution is legitimate. For a security patch on a stable plugin, the risk of leaving it unapplied is measurably higher than the risk of the update itself. A broken layout can be fixed in minutes. A compromised site, with injected code, stolen data, or a Google Safe Browsing flag against your domain, takes considerably longer to recover from and carries consequences your customers will notice.
Your hosting provider and your business insurance, if you carry cyber cover, may also have positions on whether you maintained your software. Running a site on a publicly disclosed vulnerable plugin is a difficult position to defend if something goes wrong.
Check your version today. If it reads below 7.8, update it before you do anything else.
If you are not certain your site has been patched, or if you want a full security audit of every plugin, theme, and configuration setting on your WordPress installation, I can help.
The CVE-2026-3375 disclosure is now public, which means the clock on active exploitation has started. Waiting until your next scheduled review is a risk I would not recommend taking.
I offer a focused WordPress security audit that covers plugin versions, user permissions, authentication settings, and known vulnerability exposure across your entire installation. You get a clear report and a prioritised list of fixes, rather than a vague health score.
Book a security audit at The WordPress Guy and get your site checked before an attacker does it for you.
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Jason Boyd
Specialist WordPress Engineer · Former W3C Invited Expert · 20+ years
I fix the WordPress problems other developers walk away from. Backed by a 1st Class degree in Computer Science, an MSc in Cybersecurity, and over 20 years of specialist WordPress work, I diagnose issues at their root cause and resolve them permanently — for businesses that cannot afford guesswork or repeat failures.
If this article describes your situation, I can diagnose the specifics and fix it properly. Send your brief and I'll respond the same working day.
