SiteGround Optimizer <= 5.0.12 - Missing Authorization

Description

The SiteGround Optimizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass leading to Remote Code Execution and Local File Inclusion in versions up to, and including, 5.0.12 due to incorrect use of an access control attribute on the switch_php function called via the /switch-php REST API route. This allows attackers to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where images and other “safe” file types can be uploaded and included.

Timeline

Scores

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)

0.85% · top 42% of all CVEs (8 Nov 2026)

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: total

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Critical 9.8.

Weakness

• CWE-862 Missing Authorization (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-862 and its CVEs

Affected products

• siteground · Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin

  • affected < 5.0.13

References (2)

• https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/657f3bd7-2cdc-4eb6-ba50-7c7fca468df0?source=cve (opens in a new tab)
• https://blog.sucuri.net/2019/03/vulnerability-disclosure-siteground-optimizer-caldera-forms.html (opens in a new tab)

Sources

The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.

• CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
• CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
• NVD (opens in a new tab)
• FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
• OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
• GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
• CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2019-25217](https://cveledger.app/badge/CVE-2019-25217.svg)](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2019-25217)

Record last updated 8 Apr 2026, 16:57 UTC.