CVE-2026-104754 in Rank Math SEO Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2026
The Rank Math SEO WordPress plugin before 1.0.280 does not escape a stored redirection source value before outputting it in an administrative list view, allowing users who can manage redirections (Administrators by default) to store JavaScript that executes in the session of any user who later opens that view, including a Super Administrator on multisite.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2026
The vulnerability identified in Rank Math SEO versions prior to 1.0.280 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the WordPress administrative interface. This security defect stems from an insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanism when handling redirection source values. Specifically, the plugin fails to properly escape user-supplied data before rendering it in an administrative list view dedicated to managing redirects. In web application architecture, this specific failure mode aligns with CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary vector for cross-site scripting attacks. The core technical issue lies in the absence of context-aware output encoding, allowing malicious scripts embedded within redirection URLs or source fields to persist in the database and execute upon subsequent retrieval by authorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its stored nature and high-privilege execution context. An attacker with the ability to manage redirects, which defaults to Administrators on standard WordPress installations but can be granted to lower-level roles depending on site configuration, can inject malicious JavaScript payloads into redirection rules. These payloads are not executed immediately upon entry; instead, they remain dormant in the database until an administrator or super administrator accesses the specific administrative list view where these redirect configurations are displayed. This delayed execution model makes detection difficult and increases the potential blast radius of the attack. On WordPress multisite installations, this vulnerability extends to Super Administrators, who possess global control over all sites within the network, thereby amplifying the severity of the compromise.
Exploitation of this flaw allows an attacker to hijack administrative sessions or perform actions on behalf of privileged users without their knowledge. By executing JavaScript in the context of a logged-in administrator, the malicious script can interact with the browser's Document Object Model and session cookies. This capability enables attackers to steal authentication tokens, redirect administrative traffic to phishing sites designed to capture credentials, or manipulate the WordPress interface to install additional malware plugins. The attack effectively bypasses standard security boundaries because it leverages legitimate administrative privileges through a trusted application component that is perceived as safe by the browser's same-origin policy.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term secure coding practices. The primary defense is upgrading the Rank Math SEO plugin to version 1.0.280 or later, where this specific input validation flaw has been addressed through proper output encoding functions such as esc_html or wp_kses_post in PHP. For environments unable to upgrade immediately, administrators should restrict who holds the capability to manage redirects, ensuring that only highly trusted individuals have access to these settings. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy header can help mitigate the impact of any successfully injected scripts by restricting the sources from which executable content can be loaded. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on output encoding in administrative interfaces are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in WordPress ecosystems. This incident underscores the importance of treating all user-controlled data as untrusted, even when it is intended for internal administrative use only.