Authenticated code execution via unchecked .htaccess overwrite
Published Nov 28, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026
Code injection in Rank Math SEO 1.0.231 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code through .htaccess changes. The update_htaccess function writes unslashed htaccess_content from a nonce-bearing admin_post request into the site's .htaccess file without an additional capability check. Access to General Settings or Titles & Meta Settings is required; administrators have it by default, and custom roles can receive it.
Summary
What happened
Code injection in Rank Math SEO 1.0.231 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code through .htaccess changes. The update_htaccess function writes unslashed htaccess_content from a nonce-bearing admin_post request into the site's .htaccess file without an additional capability check. Access to General Settings or Titles & Meta Settings is required; administrators have it by default, and custom roles can receive it.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-11620
- Published
- Nov 28, 2024
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- Rank Math SEO
- Product
- Rank Math SEO
- Classifications
- CWE-94, CAPEC-242, T1505.003
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 28, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 11, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.0.231
- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.0.231 changes=[{"at":"1.0.232","status":"unaffected"}]
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Patchstack .htaccess overwrite demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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