---
id: "CVE-2026-118241"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-118241"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-118241"]
title: "WordPress Smush plugin lets authors alter other users' media files"
severity: "low"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["package", "self-hosted", "smush", "wordpress"]
not_affected_if: ["no-author-accounts", "plugin-at-4.3.6-or-later"]
published_at: "2026-11-11T06:17:14+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-11T06:25:41+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-11T06:27:45+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118241", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-11T06:25:41+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# WordPress Smush plugin lets authors alter other users' media files

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-118241 (this .md is for agents)

The Smush WordPress plugin before 4.3.6 checks only a broad upload capability, not ownership, before acting on media attachments. An logged-in author can optimise or restore attachments owned by other users, changing files on disk and consuming their stored backups.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed Smush version in the WordPress plugins list or the plugin's `smush.php` header; versions below `4.3.6` are affected.
- Review which users hold the Author role or higher on the site.

## Fix

- Smush `4.3.6` (versions before this are affected, per the advisory).

## Timeline

- 2026-11-11T06:25:41+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118241

## From the sources

The Smush  WordPress plugin before 4.3.6 does not verify that a user is authorised to act on the targeted media attachment, only checking a broad upload-files capability, which allows users with the Author role and above to optimise and restore attachments owned by other users, altering their files on disk and consuming the stored backup.

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_