CVE-2026-57342 in Adaptive Images Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/02/2026
Subscriber Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in ShortPixel Adaptive Images <= 3.11.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as subscriber cross site scripting in ShortPixel Adaptive Images plugin affects versions up to and including 3.11.3, representing a critical security flaw that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the plugin's administrative interfaces. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-submitted data, particularly in parameters related to image processing configurations and subscriber management functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-controllable inputs before rendering them within HTML contexts. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the XSS vector to execute scripts in the context of authenticated administrator sessions, potentially allowing full compromise of the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability specifically manifests in areas where subscriber data is processed and displayed, creating a persistent XSS attack surface that can be leveraged for credential theft, session hijacking, or unauthorized modifications to site content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to WordPress sites utilizing the ShortPixel Adaptive Images plugin, as successful exploitation could lead to complete administrative control over affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration to include potential malware deployment, website defacement, and disruption of business operations through unauthorized modifications to image processing configurations. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is categorized under the OWASP Top Ten as A03:2021 - Injection vulnerabilities.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any administrator or user with access to the plugin's subscriber management features who may inadvertently interact with maliciously crafted inputs. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interfaces, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with potentially untrusted data. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could craft malicious emails containing links that exploit this XSS flaw when administrators view them in the plugin's interface.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected installations to version 3.11.4 or later, which contains necessary input validation fixes. Administrators should implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of plugin installations, monitoring for unauthorized changes to image processing configurations, and implementing content security policies to reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can further limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular backups ensure rapid recovery capabilities in case of compromise. Organizations should also consider automated scanning tools that can detect similar vulnerabilities in other installed plugins and themes to maintain comprehensive security posture across their WordPress environments.