CVE-2024-9161

MEDIUM EXPLOITED NUCLEI

Rank Math SEO < 1.0.228 - Unauthenticated Metadata Modification and Deletion via Missing Capability Check

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2024-9161 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV). A Nuclei detection template is also available.

Description

The Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification and loss of data due to a missing capability check on the 'update_metadata' function in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.228. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to insert new and update existing metadata beginning with 'rank_math', and delete arbitrary existing user metadata and term metadata. Deleting existing usermeta can cause a loss of access to the administrator dashboard for any registered users, including Administrators.

Nuclei Templates (1)

Rank Math SEO < 1.0.229 - Unauthenticated User and Term Metadata Insert/Update/Deletion
MEDIUMVERIFIEDby Kazgangap
Shodan: http.html:"/wp-content/plugins/seo-by-rank-math/"
FOFA: body="/wp-content/plugins/seo-by-rank-math/"

Scores

CVSS v3 6.5
EPSS 0.0204
EPSS Percentile 78.6%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2024-10-25
CWE
CWE-862
Status published
Products (2)
rankmath/Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings < 1.0.228
rankmath/seo < 1.0.229
Published Oct 05, 2024
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026