Reported vulnerability

Rank Math SEO PRO 3.0.123 - Unauthenticated Embedded Malicious Code

Published 16 Oct 2026

Updated 17 Oct 2026

CVE-2026-111862

Compare your installed software with the affected versions below. Follow the source’s remediation guidance and test an available update after taking a backup. A database entry describes a reported issue; it does not establish whether a particular website has been compromised.

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Rank Math SEO PRO

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Wordfence advisory

critical · CVSS 9.8

Rank Math SEO PRO for WordPress is affected by a supply-chain compromise in a subset of version 3.0.123 packages downloaded or updated between October 15, 2026 at 20:02 UTC and October 16, 2026 at 07:12 UTC. Rank Math states that the affected plugin files contained malware that could compromise a website if the plugin was activated and directs sites that activated an affected package to treat the website as compromised. The malware may establish persistent access, communicate with rank1cdn[.]com, recreate hidden backdoors on page visits, and expose WordPress credentials, database credentials, API keys, and other secrets accessible to the web server. Rank Math identifies three malicious wp_options keys, hidden PHP backdoors, unauthorized administrator accounts, a fake WordPress core file, PHP-executable .cache files, and a system cron marker as incident indicators. Only packages obtained during the vendor-confirmed window are claimed as affected; version 3.0.123 alone is not sufficient to establish compromise. Rank Math removed the affected files and released version 3.0.124 as the clean replacement.

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

Rank Math SEO PRO

Software
plugin · seo-by-rank-math-pro
Affected versions
From 3.0.123, through 3.0.123
Fix availability
Fix available
Fixed versions
3.0.124

Recommended action

Update to version 3.0.124, or a newer patched version

Further references (1)
Data sources and licences

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Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation

CVE Usage: MITRE hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®). Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.

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Source: Wordfence

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Questions about this vulnerability

Which versions of Rank Math SEO PRO are affected?

Wordfence lists these affected versions: From 3.0.123, through 3.0.123. Use the version checker above to compare your installed release with this report.

Is a fix available for Rank Math SEO PRO?

Wordfence reports a fix for this issue in Rank Math SEO PRO. It lists these fixed versions: 3.0.124. Back up your website and test the recommended update before applying it to your live site.

Where can I find my installed plugin version?

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Does an affected version mean my website has been hacked?

An affected version means the installed release matches a vulnerability described in this report. It does not show whether anyone has exploited it on your website. The checker compares version numbers with stored reports; it does not inspect your website.

These reports cover at least one of the same plugins, themes or WordPress core. Check each report’s affected versions separately.

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