EWWW Image Optimizer <= 8.7.7 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via REQUEST_URI Parameter Key
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 8.8.0
- Affected Plugin
- EWWW Image Optimizer
- Affected Version
<= 8.7.7- CVSS
- 6.1Medium
- Weakness type
- CWE-79 · Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
- CVE
CVE-2026-92826
At a glance
CVE-2026-92826 is a medium-severity Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in the EWWW Image Optimizer WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 8.7.7. It carries a CVSS score of 6.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 8.8.0; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed October 2026, reported by braintx.
Vulnerability Overview
The EWWW Image Optimizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via REQUEST_URI Parameter Key in all versions up to, and including, 8.7.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. Successful exploitation requires that the enable_help option is active, as the vulnerable HelpScout Beacon script block is only emitted when that setting is enabled.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site.
CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Reaching this weakness in EWWW Image Optimizer <= 8.7.7 takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. Cross-site scripting happens when input from a request is written into a page without being escaped for the context it lands in, so the browser parses attacker-supplied text as markup or script.
Injected script runs with the privileges of whoever views the affected page, which is how these flaws turn into administrator session theft, silent account creation or persistent backdoors in page content. For EWWW Image Optimizer the fix is 8.8.0: builds <= 8.7.7 are affected, anything from 8.8.0 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 8.8.0, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to EWWW Image Optimizer: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: EWWW Image Optimizer 8.8.0 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Same weakness class
Other vulnerabilities in EWWW Image Optimizer
- 9.6CVE-2016-20010: EWWW Image Optimizer <= 2.8.4 Remote Code Execution
CVE-2016-20010 - 7.5CVE-2026-91051: EWWW Image Optimizer 8.6.0… PHP Object Injection
CVE-2026-91051 - 6.1CVE-2014-6243: EWWW Image Optimizer <= 2.0.1 Reflected XSS
CVE-2014-6243 - 5.3CVE-2023-40600: EWWW Image Optimizer <= 7.2.0 Info Exposure
CVE-2023-40600 - 5.3EWWW Image Optimizer <= 7.2.0 Sensitive Information Exposure
- 4.7CVE-2026-91072: EWWW Image… Cross-Site WebP File Deletion or Rename
CVE-2026-91072 - 4.3CVE-2024-31924: EWWW Image Optimizer <= 7.2.3 CSRF
CVE-2024-31924 - 4.3CVE-2020-36750: EWWW Image Optimizer <= 5.8.1 CSRF Bypass
CVE-2020-36750
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