CVE-2024-9161Network attack vector

Unauthenticated metadata modification via unchecked REST callback

Published Oct 5, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Missing authorization in Rank Math SEO 1.0.228 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter or delete WordPress metadata. The update_metadata REST callback accepts unauthenticated requests without a capability check, permits writes only to keys beginning with rank_math, and permits deletion of arbitrary user or term metadata. No account is required; deletion of existing user metadata can block registered users, including administrators, from the dashboard.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability2.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Rank Math SEO 1.0.228 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter or delete WordPress metadata. The update_metadata REST callback accepts unauthenticated requests without a capability check, permits writes only to keys beginning with rank_math, and permits deletion of arbitrary user or term metadata. No account is required; deletion of existing user metadata can block registered users, including administrators, from the dashboard.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-9161
Published
Oct 5, 2024
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Rank Math SEO
Product
Rank Math SEO
Classifications
CWE-862, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 5, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 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=0 <=1.0.228

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Rank Math SEO · Rank Math SEOversion=0 <=1.0.228

Published CVSS scores

6.5WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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