CVE-2026-5821 Image Optimizer <= 1.7.4 - Authenticated (Author+) Arbitrary File Deletion via Post Meta Field Injection
Authenticated attackers can delete arbitrary server files by injecting paths into post meta, causing data loss or denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-5821?
CVE-2026-5821 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in elemntor Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF, published on 2 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The Image Optimizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion in versions up to and including 1.7.4. This is due to insufficient path validation in the Image_Backup::remove() function where backup file paths stored in post meta are used directly in file deletion operations without verifying they are within the uploads directory. The plugin stores backup file paths in the image_optimizer_metadata post meta field and trusts these paths completely when deleting backups on the delete_attachment hook. An authenticated attacker with Author-level access can edit the image_optimizer_metadata post meta on their own attachments via WordPress's Custom Fields interface, injecting arbitrary absolute file paths into the backups array. When the attacker subsequently deletes the attachment, the plugin calls File_System::delete() on each path without validation. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server within the web server's filesystem permissions, potentially leading to denial of service, data loss, or security degradation.
Weakness: CWE-73
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-5821?
How do I fix CVE-2026-5821?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-5821 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-5821 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-5821 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-rhv9-h5xx-r8m5.