---
id: "CVE-2026-104769"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-104769"]
title: "Debloat WordPress plugin: directory traversal reads arbitrary server files"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["package", "self-hosted", "wordpress"]
not_affected_if: ["optimize-css-disabled", "plugin-not-installed"]
published_at: "2026-10-16T04:18:23+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:12+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T04:09:58+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-104769", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:12+00:00"}]
---

# Debloat WordPress plugin: directory traversal reads arbitrary server files

The Debloat WordPress plugin up to and including 1.3.0 fails to sanitize the 's' parameter, allowing directory traversal. An attacker can read arbitrary files on the server, which may contain sensitive data such as configuration secrets.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed plugin version in the WordPress admin plugin list or with `wp plugin get debloat` (the exact slug is unknown from the sources).
- Look for the Optimize CSS feature under the plugin settings and confirm whether it is enabled.

## Fix

- Move the plugin past `1.3.0` or remove it. The sources do not name the fixed release.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:12+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-104769

## From the sources

The Debloat – Remove Unused CSS, Optimize JS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.0 via the 's' parameter parameter. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information. Exploitation requires that the site administrator has enabled the Optimize CSS feature (with the default Inline Google Fonts option active), but once that condition is met the attack is trivially triggered by an unauthenticated visitor with a single crafted GET request to the public search URL.

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