LWSCache Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/lwscache

This plugin lets you manage and automatically purge your hosting's LWSCache whenever you edit your website's content

8K active installs v2.9 PHP 7.0+ WP 5.0+ Updated Aug 28, 2025
cachelwsnginx
99
A · Safe
CVEs total1
Unpatched0
Last CVEAug 28, 2025
Safety Verdict

Is LWSCache Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 99/100

LWSCache has a strong security track record. Known vulnerabilities have been patched promptly.

1 known CVELast CVE: Aug 28, 2025Updated 7mo ago
Risk Assessment

The "lwscache" v2.9 plugin demonstrates some positive security practices, including a high percentage of SQL queries using prepared statements and a good rate of output escaping. The absence of critical or high-severity taint flows and dangerous functions is also a positive sign. However, the plugin exhibits significant security concerns related to its attack surface, specifically the presence of two AJAX handlers that lack authentication checks. This creates a direct pathway for unauthenticated users to potentially interact with sensitive plugin functionalities, posing a notable risk.

The vulnerability history shows one past medium-severity CVE related to improper authorization, which aligns with the identified unprotected AJAX endpoints. While there are no currently unpatched vulnerabilities, the recurring theme of authorization issues suggests a persistent area of weakness that requires ongoing attention. The static analysis also indicates a substantial number of file operations and external HTTP requests, which, while not inherently insecure, can increase the complexity and potential for vulnerabilities if not handled with extreme care, especially in the context of the unprotected entry points.

In conclusion, while "lwscache" v2.9 has strengths in its handling of SQL and output, the presence of unprotected AJAX endpoints is a critical flaw that elevates its risk profile. The past authorization vulnerability further underscores this concern. Addressing the unprotected AJAX handlers should be the immediate priority to improve the plugin's security posture.

Key Concerns

  • Unprotected AJAX handlers found
  • Past medium severity CVE (Improper Authorization)
Vulnerabilities
1

LWSCache Security Vulnerabilities

CVEs by Year

1 CVE in 2025
2025
Patched Has unpatched

Severity Breakdown

Medium
1

1 total CVE

CVE-2025-8147medium · 4.3Improper Authorization

LWSCache <= 2.8.5 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Limited Plugin Activation via lwscache_activatePlugin Function

Aug 28, 2025 Patched in 2.9 (1d)
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

LWSCache Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
0
Raw SQL Queries
2
9 prepared
Unescaped Output
19
96 escaped
Nonce Checks
9
Capability Checks
8
File Operations
26
External Requests
16
Bundled Libraries
0

SQL Query Safety

82% prepared11 total queries

Output Escaping

83% escaped115 total outputs
Data Flows
2 unsanitized

Data Flow Analysis

4 flows2 with unsanitized paths
<lws-cache-admin-display> (admin\partials\lws-cache-admin-display.php:0)
Source (user input) Sink (dangerous op) Sanitizer Transform Unsanitized Sanitized
Attack Surface
2 unprotected

LWSCache Attack Surface

Entry Points10
Unprotected2

AJAX Handlers 10

authwp_ajax_rt_get_feedsincludes\class-lws-cache.php:225
authwp_ajax_lwscache_reminder_ajaxlwscache.php:302
authwp_ajax_lwscache_deactivate_companion_rocketlwscache.php:312
authwp_ajax_lwscache_donotask_ajaxlwscache.php:320
authwp_ajax_lwscache_downloadPluginlwscache.php:397
authwp_ajax_lwscache_activatePluginlwscache.php:401
authwp_ajax_lwscache_change_cache_statelwscache.php:441
authwp_ajax_change_autopurgelwscache.php:472
authwp_ajax_lwscache_get_excluded_urllwscache.php:505
authwp_ajax_lwscache_save_excluded_urllwscache.php:515
WordPress Hooks 40
actionadmin_noticesadmin\class-lws-cache-admin.php:722
actionnetwork_admin_noticesadmin\class-lws-cache-admin.php:723
actionplugins_loadedincludes\class-lws-cache.php:166
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsincludes\class-lws-cache.php:211
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsincludes\class-lws-cache.php:212
actionnetwork_admin_menuincludes\class-lws-cache.php:215
actionadmin_menuincludes\class-lws-cache.php:218
actionadmin_bar_menuincludes\class-lws-cache.php:222
actionshutdownincludes\class-lws-cache.php:227
actionadd_initincludes\class-lws-cache.php:228
actionwp_insert_commentincludes\class-lws-cache.php:233
actiontransition_comment_statusincludes\class-lws-cache.php:234
actiontransition_post_statusincludes\class-lws-cache.php:235
actiondelete_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:236
actionrt_wp_lws_cache_check_log_file_size_dailyincludes\class-lws-cache.php:237
actionedit_attachmentincludes\class-lws-cache.php:238
actionwp_initialize_siteincludes\class-lws-cache.php:239
actiontransition_post_statusincludes\class-lws-cache.php:240
actionedit_termincludes\class-lws-cache.php:241
actiondelete_termincludes\class-lws-cache.php:242
actioncheck_ajax_refererincludes\class-lws-cache.php:243
actionadmin_bar_initincludes\class-lws-cache.php:244
actionwp_insert_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:247
actionedit_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:248
actionsave_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:249
actiondeleted_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:251
actiontrashed_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:252
actionspammed_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:253
actionunspammed_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:254
actionuntrashed_postincludes\class-lws-cache.php:255
actionrt_lws_cache_purge_allincludes\class-lws-cache.php:259
actionadmin_noticesincludes\class-lws-cache.php:323
actionnetwork_admin_noticesincludes\class-lws-cache.php:324
actioninitlwscache.php:140
filterrocket_htaccess_mod_expireslwscache.php:152
actionadmin_noticeslwscache.php:200
actionadmin_noticeslwscache.php:203
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptslwscache.php:329
actionadmin_noticeslwscache.php:334
actioninitlwscache.php:352

Scheduled Events 1

rt_wp_lws_cache_check_log_file_size_daily
Maintenance & Trust

LWSCache Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested6.8.5
Last updatedAug 28, 2025
PHP min version7.0
Downloads150K

Community Trust

Rating100/100
Number of ratings6
Active installs8K
Developer Profile

LWSCache Developer Profile

Aurélien LWS

6 plugins · 79K total installs

73
trust score
Avg Security Score
91/100
Avg Patch Time
222 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect LWSCache

Patterns used to identify this plugin on WordPress sites during automated security audits and web crawling.

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/lwscache/admin/icons/loading_black.svg

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
lwscache_deactivate_button
Data Attributes
id="lwscache_deactivate_button"id="deactivate_wprocket_companion"
JS Globals
ajaxurl
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about LWSCache