# CVE-2026-111738: Speed Optimizer plugin privilege escalation in network option handling

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111738-the-speed-optimizer-wordpress-plugin-before-7-8-5-does-not  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-23. Updated: 2026-10-23  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-111738 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-23

The Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin allows site administrators to modify network-wide settings without proper permission checks. An attacker with a site admin account on a WordPress multisite network can create or overwrite settings that should only be changeable by a super admin, potentially affecting all sites on the network.

Technologies: [SiteGround Speed Optimizer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/speed-optimizer). Vendors: [SiteGround](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/siteground).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-111738 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-111738 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-111738?** Informational severity, published 23 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SiteGround Speed Optimizer before 7.8.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-111738?** Yes: fixed in 7.8.5. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-111738 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-111738?** Check whether you run SiteGround Speed Optimizer at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 7.8.5

## Technical details

The plugin fails to validate whether a user has network-level (super admin) privileges before applying option changes to the entire multisite network via enable-option/disable-option functions, and does not restrict which options may be modified. An authenticated site administrator can exploit this to escalate privileges and alter network-wide options, bypassing intended access controls (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization).

## Affected products

- SiteGround Speed Optimizer before 7.8.5

## Timeline

- 2026-10-21: disclosed
- 2026-10-23: advisory

## References

- [https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e08044dc-c514-4e4a-bf3e-995dd2ad29b1/](https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e08044dc-c514-4e4a-bf3e-995dd2ad29b1/)

## Related threats

- [Speed Optimizer WordPress plugin stored XSS in settings](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111737-the-speed-optimizer-wordpress-plugin-before-7-8-5-does-not)
- [Multiple WordPress Plugins Stored XSS in HTML Minification](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-3220-multiple-wordpress-plugins-stored-xss-in-html-minification)