# CVE-2026-5114: Softaculous SpeedyCache path traversal arbitrary file read

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-5114-softaculous-speedycache-path-traversal-arbitrary-file-read  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-28. Updated: 2026-07-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-5114 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.9 · Published 2026-07-28

SpeedyCache, a WordPress plugin used to improve website performance, contains a security flaw that allows administrators to read sensitive files from the underlying server. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker with high-level access could steal critical configuration files, such as those containing database credentials or system passwords. This information could be used to further compromise the website or the server it resides on.

Vendors: [Softaculous](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/softaculous).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-5114 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-5114 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-5114?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.9, published 28 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Softaculous SpeedyCache up to, and including, 1.3.8.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-5114?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-5114 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-5114?** Check whether you run Softaculous SpeedyCache 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.

## Technical details

The SpeedyCache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to an arbitrary file read via path traversal due to a logic flaw in how it handles CSS file validation and path resolution. Specifically, there is a mismatch where the CSS URL validation allows query strings (e.g., '.css?...'), but the subsequent path resolution strips these query strings without verifying if the final resolved file is actually a CSS file. An authenticated attacker with Administrator-level privileges can exploit this by injecting crafted <link> tags into page content. The plugin then processes these tags and writes the contents of the targeted files (such as wp-config.php or /etc/passwd) into publicly accessible cache files. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.3.8.

## Affected products

- Softaculous SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance up to, and including, 1.3.8

## Timeline

- 2026-07-28: disclosed
- 2026-07-28: advisory

## References

- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/speedycache/tags/1.3.7/main/css.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/speedycache/tags/1.3.7/main/css.php)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/speedycache/tags/1.3.7/main/util.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/speedycache/tags/1.3.7/main/util.php)
- [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cfefcc38-764d-4dd9-b098-cdcad475d634?source=cve](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cfefcc38-764d-4dd9-b098-cdcad475d634?source=cve)