WP Meta SEO: A security weakness

WP Meta SEO is affected by a security weakness. Exploitation requires at least subscriber-level access. The resulting impact depends on how the affected component exposes the vulnerable operation.

CVE / CNA score 5.4 CVSS 3.1 · security@wordfence.com

NVD score 4.3 CVSS 3.1 · nvd@nist.gov

Component: WP Meta SEO
Plugin slug: wp-meta-seo
Affected: See vendor advisory
Safe version: See mitigation notes
Published: Feb 28, 2023
Weakness: CWE-862 — Missing Authorization

This CVE was published Feb 28, 2023 and is one of 18 known issues for this plugin.

What to do

Update, patch or deactivate.

Update WP Meta SEO to a release outside the affected range, or disable and remove it until a fixed version is available.

No confirmed safe version is listed. Consider a vendor-supported patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality while you assess the risk.

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.

Source record

Technical description

The WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized plugin settings update due to a missing capability check on the saveSitemapSettings function in versions up to, and including, 4.5.3. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access to change sitemap-related settings of the plugin. This vulnerability occurred as a result of the plugin relying on nonce checks as a means of access control, and that nonce being accessible to all authenticated users regardless of role.

CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

NVD vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

References

Update, patch or deactivate.

Technical description

Primary and upstream sources