davidanderson WP-Optimize Plugin up to 4.5.2 on WordPress REST API unscheduled_original_file_deletion path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in davidanderson WP-Optimize Plugin up to 4.5.2 on WordPress. It has been declared as critical. This issue affects the function unscheduled_original_file_deletion of the component REST API. The manipulation results in path traversal. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-7252. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in davidanderson WP-Optimize Plugin up to 4.5.2 on WordPress. Affected is the function unscheduled_original_file_deletion of the component REST API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. This is going to have an impact on integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the unscheduled_original_file_deletion function in all versions up to, and including, 4.5.2 This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with author-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). This is possible because 'original-file' is a public (non-protected) meta key — it does not begin with an underscore — allowing Authors to freely create or modify it on their own attachment posts via the standard Edit Media form or the REST API.

The weakness was shared by Ly Hoang. The advisory is available at wordfence.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-7252 since 04/27/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/07/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1006 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-28323). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Vendor

• davidanderson

Name

• WP-Optimize Plugin

Version

• 4.5.0
• 4.5.1
• 4.5.2

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion