Medium severity · published Mar 20, 2026
CVE-2026-2352
Autoptimize <= 3.1.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'ao_post_preload' Meta Value
6.4
CVSS
0.3%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
The Autoptimize plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'ao_post_preload' meta value in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.14. This is due to insufficient input sanitization in the `ao_metabox_save()` function and missing output escaping when the value is rendered into a `<link>` tag in `autoptimizeImages.php`. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page, granted the "Image optimization" or "Lazy-load images" setting is enabled in the plugin configuration.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.3% · higher than 18% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
AU
Autoptimize · optimizingmatters
through 3.1.14 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2352
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-2352
github.com
https://github.com/futtta/autoptimize/commit/60d1e487e536a97ae317784f8aeaf0d2e93cd717
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/autoptimize/tags/3.1.14/classes/autoptimizeImages.php#L804
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/autoptimize/tags/3.1.14/classes/autoptimizeImages.php#L938
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/autoptimize/tags/3.1.14/classes/autoptimizeMetabox.php#L276
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/autoptimize/trunk/classes/autoptimizeImages.php#L804
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/autoptimize/trunk/classes/autoptimizeMetabox.php#L276
More from Autoptimize
7.2
CVE-2026-14995
Autoptimize <= 3.1.15.1 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via REQUEST_URI Path
6.4
CVE-2026-2430
Autoptimize <= 3.1.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Lazy-loaded Image Attributes
6.4
CVE-2025-13401
Autoptimize <= 3.1.13 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting
5.4
CVE-2026-78471
Autoptimize <= 3.1.15.1 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author Name
