Unauthenticated PHP execution via unprotected REST route
Published Oct 16, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
Missing authorization in SiteGround Speed Optimizer 5.0.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute PHP through a REST request. The /switch-php route registers switch_php without a permission_callback, so WordPress exposes code that accepts a file path and includes its contents. No authentication is required, but code execution depends on an includable server-side file, such as an uploaded file containing PHP code; the same primitive can expose sensitive local data.
Summary
What happened
Missing authorization in SiteGround Speed Optimizer 5.0.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute PHP through a REST request. The /switch-php route registers switch_php without a permission_callback, so WordPress exposes code that accepts a file path and includes its contents. No authentication is required, but code execution depends on an includable server-side file, such as an uploaded file containing PHP code; the same primitive can expose sensitive local data.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2019-25217
- Published
- Oct 16, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- SiteGround
- Product
- Speed Optimizer
- Classifications
- CWE-862, T1505.003, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <5.0.13
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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