CVE-2024-9161 is a vulnerability that affects the Rank Math SEO plugin. This function is supposed to confirm whether a user has permission to modify metadata linked to Rank Math SEO settings, but in certain versions of the plugin, it doesn’t. This opens the door for any unauthenticated attacker to insert new metadata, change existing ones starting with “rank_math,” or delete arbitrary user or term metadata.
What makes this vulnerability particularly concerning is that deleting key user metadata could lock administrators out of their own WordPress dashboard. In other words, a malicious actor could effectively shut out the site administrators, causing serious disruption to both security and day-to-day operations.
How Does the Exploit Work?
The main issue lies in the update_metadata function, which is designed to handle sensitive metadata related to the Rank Math SEO plugin. Because it doesn’t properly verify user permissions, an attacker can bypass authentication and manipulate the metadata as they please.
With this flaw, an attacker can insert new metadata, update existing metadata starting with “rank_math,” or delete crucial user metadata, including that of administrators. Removing such data can cause administrators to lose access to the WordPress dashboard, effectively locking them out of their own site.
This can lead to a complete site compromise, affecting SEO performance, data integrity, and administrative control.
If they delete critical metadata, you could be locked out of your dashboard, making it nearly impossible to regain control without external help. For businesses relying on WordPress, this could mean significant downtime, loss of revenue, and potential reputational damage. With access to these vulnerabilities, Attackers can go further by installing backdoors, breaching data, or defacing your website.
All versions of the Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings plugin up to and including version 1.0.228 are vulnerable. This impacts a large number of WordPress users since Rank Math SEO is a popular plugin for managing on-page SEO and metadata optimization.
How to Mitigate the Risk
If you’re using the Rank Math SEO plugin on your WordPress site, here’s what you should do:
- Check the plugin repository or Rank Math’s official website for updates. Install the latest version as soon as it’s available.
- Ensure that your WordPress site has proper role management in place. Regularly audit user permissions to prevent unauthorized access to critical functions.
- Make sure you have recent backups of your site. If an attacker exploits this vulnerability, having a clean backup will allow you to restore your site to a safe state.
- Keep an eye on your WordPress logs for any unusual activity, especially around metadata modifications. This might help you catch an exploit attempt before it causes serious damage.
Long-Term Security Practices
While it’s crucial to patch vulnerabilities as they come up, website administrators should take a proactive approach to security. Here’s what you can do:
- Regularly update all your plugins, especially security-critical ones like SEO or backup plugins. Outdated plugins are a common entry point for attackers.
- Adding 2FA to your WordPress admin login provides extra protection if someone tries to break into your account.
- Restrict the number of failed login attempts to prevent brute force attacks, often used alongside vulnerabilities like this one.
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