Description
The Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin before 7.8.5 does not sanitise or escape some of its settings before outputting them in the head of front-end pages, which could allow high-privilege users such as admins to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in a multisite setup).
Published: 2026-10-23
Score: 3.5 Low
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Stored Cross‑Site Scripting allowing admin users to execute arbitrary JavaScript via unsanitized DNS prefetch and font preload URL lists
Action: Patch Immediately
AI Analysis

Impact

The Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin fails to sanitize or escape certain configuration values before injecting them into the page head. Admin‑level users can therefore store malicious URLs in the DNS prefetch or font preload lists, and any visitor to the site will trigger execution of the injected script in their browser context. This stored XSS can be leveraged to steal session cookies, deface content, or facilitate further attacks.

Affected Systems

All releases of the Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin prior to version 7.8.5 are affected. The vulnerability is present in the configuration interface that outputs unsanitized URL lists into the head of front‑end pages.

Risk and Exploitability

The risk is high because the flaw requires an attacker to have administrative access to inject the payload, but once stored the vulnerability can impact any visitor without further action. The CVSS score is 3.5 and EPSS data is unavailable, so the exact likelihood is unknown; however, stored XSS in WordPress plugins historically experiences frequent exploitation when configuration data can be controlled. The attack path involves an attacker gaining or already possessing admin rights on the target site, inserting a malicious URL into the plugin options, and then relying on users to visit the affected pages.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 23, 2026 at 12:55 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade the Speed Optimizer plugin to version 7.8.5 or newer, which includes proper escaping of URL lists
  • If an upgrade is delayed, export or manually edit the DNS prefetch and font preload options to remove or sanitize any suspicious URLs, ensuring that only validated URLs remain
  • If the site does not need DNS prefetch or font preload, disable these options entirely
  • Implement a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline and external script execution from untrusted URLs to reduce the impact of any remaining misconfiguration

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 23, 2026 at 12:55 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-79

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin before 7.8.5 does not sanitise or escape some of its settings before outputting them in the head of front-end pages, which could allow high-privilege users such as admins to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in a multisite setup).
Title Speed Optimizer < 7.8.5 - Admin+ Stored XSS via DNS Prefetch and Font Preload URL Lists
References

Subscriptions

No data.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: WPScan

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-23T10:46:04.684Z

Reserved: 2026-10-16T17:02:23.955Z

Link: CVE-2026-111737

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-23T10:38:10.515Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-10-23T06:17:05.790

Modified: 2026-10-23T14:20:57.920

Link: CVE-2026-111737

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-23T13:00:18Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-79

    Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')