CVE-2026-7624 in SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2026
The SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass in all versions up to, and including, 12.4.16. This is due to the plugin not properly verifying that a user is authorized to perform an action. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to invoke privileged state-changing Squirrly cloud API operations, such as revoking the site's Google Search Console and Google Analytics integrations via `api/gsc/revoke` and `api/ga/revoke`, that are otherwise restricted to administrator-level users holding the `sq_manage_settings` capability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO represents a significant security vulnerability within the WordPress ecosystem that has persisted across multiple versions up to and including 12.4.16. This authorization bypass flaw fundamentally undermines the plugin's access control mechanisms, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector for malicious actors within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's failure to implement proper authorization verification when processing API requests, allowing attackers to exploit legitimate plugin functionality for unauthorized purposes.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's inadequate validation of user capabilities during critical API operations. When authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher attempt to invoke specific endpoints such as api/gsc/revoke and api/ga/revoke, the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges required to perform these operations. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that falls under the CWE-862 category of "Missing Authorization" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage existing user credentials to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability specifically affects the sq_manage_settings capability, which should be restricted to administrator-level users but is being circumvented through improper access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to manipulate critical site integrations with Google services. By exploiting the authorization bypass, malicious contributors or higher-level users can revoke Google Search Console and Google Analytics integrations, effectively disrupting site monitoring and analytics capabilities. This type of attack could lead to significant operational damage, including loss of search visibility, analytics data, and potential revenue impact for businesses relying on these integrations. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by attackers who gain contributor-level access through other means, such as social engineering or compromised credentials, as outlined in ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization bypass issue, as recommended by the plugin developers and security researchers. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions and monitoring to detect unauthorized API access patterns, particularly around the affected endpoints. Additionally, administrators should review and enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only users requiring administrative capabilities maintain access to the WordPress site. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper capability checks in WordPress plugins and demonstrates how inadequate access control validation can create persistent security risks that require immediate attention and remediation.