OpenLiteSpeed: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVE-2026-31386 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in OpenLiteSpeed from LiteSpeed Technologies, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.6 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected OpenLiteSpeed versions: all versions. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.61% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 76% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Litespeed Web Server to 6.3.5 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| LiteSpeed Technologies | OpenLiteSpeed | all versions | Not stated |
| LiteSpeed Technologies | LSWS Enterprise | all versions | Not stated |
| Litespeedtech | Litespeed Web Server | before 6.3.5 | 6.3.5 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (jpcert.or.jp).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.6 | High | CNA (jpcert.or.jp) |
| CVSS 3.0 | 7.2 | High | CNA (jpcert.or.jp) |
Official description
OpenLiteSpeed and LSWS Enterprise provided by LiteSpeed Technologies contain an OS command injection vulnerability. An arbitrary OS command may be executed by an attacker with the administrative privilege.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
- For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN22152812/Third Party Advisory
Other references
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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