Rank Math permits Author-level indexing changes across unowned objects
Rank Math SEO before 1.0.277 does not verify permission to edit the object whose indexing metadata is updated. An Author or higher can alter SEO indexing data for content, taxonomy terms, and user profiles they do not own, including removing other users' content from the sitemap and search-engine index.
- Component
- Rank Math SEO
- Plugin slug
seo-by-rank-math- Affected
- < 1.0.277
- Safe version
1.0.277- Published
- Sep 02, 2026
This CVE was published Sep 02, 2026 and is one of 26 known issues for this plugin.
Update, patch or deactivate.
Update to Rank Math SEO 1.0.277 or later, regenerate affected sitemap output, and audit indexing metadata changes by Author-level accounts.
A safe version is available, so updating to that version or later is the preferred remediation. If an immediate update is not practical, consider a targeted application patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality.
Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.
Technical description
The Rank Math SEO WordPress plugin before 1.0.277 does not verify that a user is allowed to edit the object being modified before updating its SEO indexing metadata, allowing users with the Author role and above to alter that metadata on content, taxonomy terms and user profiles they do not own, and to remove other users' content from the site's sitemap and search engine index.
CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N