Fastcache by Host.it: Authenticated .htaccess Code Injection
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-94.
Summary
Fastcache by Host.it for WordPress is vulnerable to code injection in all versions up to and including 1.7.4 via the fastcache_settings[cache_cookie_exclude][] parameter. The setting has no sanitize_callback, and trim() leaves embedded newlines that break out of an Apache RewriteCond line. An authenticated attacker with administrator access or higher can append arbitrary Apache directives to .htaccess. Injected php_value auto_prepend_file directives run attacker-controlled PHP on every request.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29
Description from the CNA
The Fastcache by Host.it plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Code Injection in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.4 via the `fastcache_settings[cache_cookie_exclude][]` parameter. This is due to the plugin registering the `cache_cookie_exclude` setting via `register_setting()` without a `sanitize_callback`, while `buildSiteHtaccessRules()` applies only `trim()` to each cookie value before interpolating it directly into an Apache `RewriteCond` line — a normalization that strips surrounding whitespace but leaves embedded newlines intact, allowing an attacker to break out of the capture group and append arbitrary directives. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to inject arbitrary Apache directives into the site's `.htaccess` file via `file_put_contents()`, enabling server-level configuration changes such as setting `php_value auto_prepend_file` to execute attacker-controlled PHP code on every request.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version is listed for Fastcache by Host.it 1.7.4 and earlier. Until a fix is released, limit administrator accounts to trusted users and check the site's .htaccess file for unexpected directives such as php_value auto_prepend_file.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29
Timeline
- 2026-10-10 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-104021
- 2026-10-10 Alias added: GHSA-hm53-mjmf-w6v4
- 2026-10-11 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-11 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 7
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/d72d7a21-0bea-4a32-b92b-326f47998b80?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fastcache-by-host-it/tags/1.7.4/src/Core/Platform/Utility.php#L545
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fastcache-by-host-it/tags/1.7.4/src/Core/Platform/Utility.php#L420
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fastcache-by-host-it/tags/1.7.4/src/Core/Platform/Utility.php#L521
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fastcache-by-host-it/tags/1.7.4/src/Dispatcher.php#L480
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fastcache-by-host-it/tags/1.7.4/src/Admin.php#L73
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3735944%40fastcache-by-host-it&new=3735944%40fastcache-by-host-it
More hostspa vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-76012 Fastcache by Host.it: Missing Authorization Allows .htaccess Cache Rule Changes CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-104021 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-104021 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hm53-mjmf-w6v4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences