CVE-2022-36404Network attack vector

Sitemap creation and deletion via missing nonce validation

Published Nov 3, 2022 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Cross-site request forgery in David Cole Simple SEO 1.8.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to create or delete sitemaps. The sitemap action handlers process state-changing requests without verifying a WordPress nonce or enforcing adequate authorization. Exploitation requires an administrator to submit an attacker-controlled request, after which the site's sitemap can be created or deleted.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cross-site request forgery in David Cole Simple SEO 1.8.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to create or delete sitemaps. The sitemap action handlers process state-changing requests without verifying a WordPress nonce or enforcing adequate authorization. Exploitation requires an administrator to submit an attacker-controlled request, after which the site's sitemap can be created or deleted.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-36404
Published
Nov 3, 2022
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
David Cole
Product
Simple SEO
Classifications
CWE-352, CWE-862, CAPEC-62, CAPEC-1, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 3, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a <=1.8.12 changes=[{"at":"1.8.13","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

David Cole · Simple SEOversion=n/a <=1.8.12 changes=[{"at":"1.8.13","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.4PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-352Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
CWE-862Missing Authorization
CAPEC-62Cross Site Request Forgery
CAPEC-1Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs
T1204.001Malicious Link

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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