CVE-2026-7252 WP-Optimize <= 4.5.2 - Authenticated (Author+) Arbitrary File Deletion via 'original-file' Post Meta
Authenticated authors can delete arbitrary files via path traversal, potentially leading to remote code execution.
- 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-2026-7252?
CVE-2026-7252 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in davidanderson WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance, published on 7 May 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
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.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-7252?
How do I fix CVE-2026-7252?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-7252 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-2026-7252 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-7252 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-p78j-pm32-q3pf.