CVE-2026-104753 in SEO Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2026
The Rank Math SEO WordPress plugin before 1.0.280 does not properly sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL query, allowing high-privilege users such as administrators to perform SQL injection attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Rank Math SEO WordPress plugin prior to version 1.0.280 represents a critical security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Specifically, the software fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into Structured Query Language statements executed against the underlying database management system. This architectural weakness allows for SQL injection attacks, which are among the most dangerous vulnerabilities in web application development due to their potential to compromise data integrity and confidentiality. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects high-privilege users such as administrators, who typically have broad access rights within a WordPress environment. While administrative accounts already possess significant control over site content and settings, an SQL injection vulnerability can elevate the risk profile by allowing attackers to manipulate database queries directly, potentially bypassing application-level security controls entirely.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in the lack of prepared statements or rigorous escaping functions when handling specific input fields within the plugin's codebase. When a parameter is passed without adequate sanitization, it can be interpreted as part of the SQL command rather than data, enabling an attacker to inject malicious syntax. This could allow for unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion from the WordPress database. In many cases, such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-89, which covers Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The absence of these safeguards means that even if a user has legitimate administrative access, their interactions with vulnerable endpoints can be exploited by malicious actors who have gained some level of foothold or influence over the input vectors, such as through cross-site scripting attacks or compromised credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft. An attacker leveraging SQL injection in an administrative context could potentially extract sensitive information including user passwords, site configurations, and other proprietary content stored within the WordPress database. Furthermore, depending on the specific capabilities granted to the MySQL user account running the web application, it may be possible for an attacker to execute operating system commands or modify server files if certain privileges are enabled in the database configuration. This aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under Data Injection and SQL Injection tactics, where adversaries aim to manipulate backend systems to achieve persistence or privilege escalation. The risk is amplified by the widespread adoption of Rank Math SEO among WordPress users, making any successful exploitation potentially impactful across a large number of websites globally.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates and rigorous code review practices. Administrators running versions of Rank Math SEO prior to 1.0.280 should upgrade to version 1.0.280 or later, where the developers have addressed these sanitization issues by implementing proper escaping functions such as $wpdb->prepare() in PHP environments using WordPress database APIs. This ensures that all input is treated strictly as data rather than executable code during query construction. Additionally, organizations should enforce least-privilege principles for database accounts used by web applications to limit the potential damage of any successful injection attempt. Regular security audits and static application security testing can help identify similar patterns in custom plugins or themes, ensuring that future development adheres to secure coding standards like those outlined in OWASP guidelines for preventing SQL injection attacks.