CVE-2025-64351 Overview
CVE-2025-64351 is a sensitive information disclosure vulnerability in the Rank Math SEO plugin for WordPress. The flaw allows authenticated users with low privileges to retrieve embedded sensitive data from the plugin. The issue is categorized under [CWE-201] (Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data) and affects all versions up to and including 1.0.252.1. Successful exploitation exposes confidential data to actors who should not have access, though it does not affect integrity or availability of the WordPress instance.
Critical Impact
Low-privileged authenticated users can retrieve embedded sensitive data from responses generated by the Rank Math SEO plugin, exposing information intended to remain confidential.
Affected Products
- Rank Math SEO plugin (seo-by-rank-math) for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.0.252.1
- WordPress sites running the affected plugin with authenticated low-privilege users
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-31 - CVE-2025-64351 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-64351
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from the Rank Math SEO plugin embedding sensitive information within data sent to users who lack authorization to view it. Under [CWE-201], the application includes confidential values in server responses, exposing them to any authenticated actor able to trigger the affected functionality.
Exploitation requires network access and low-level authenticated privileges on the target WordPress instance. No user interaction is needed once the attacker holds valid credentials. The attack targets confidentiality only, without modifying data or disrupting site availability.
Sensitive data exposure vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins commonly leak configuration values, API tokens, internal identifiers, or metadata that assists in further attacks. Attackers frequently chain such disclosures with other flaws to escalate privileges or pivot into administrative functions.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper filtering of sensitive fields before returning data to authenticated requests. The plugin fails to enforce authorization checks on the confidentiality of embedded values, sending information to callers who should not receive it. Specific technical details are documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.
Attack Vector
An attacker with a valid low-privilege WordPress account, such as a Subscriber or Contributor, sends a crafted request to a Rank Math SEO endpoint. The server responds with data containing embedded sensitive fields the requester should not access. The attacker parses the response to extract confidential values for reconnaissance or follow-on attacks.
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for endpoint-specific behavior and payload structure.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-64351
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual volumes of authenticated requests from low-privilege accounts to Rank Math SEO REST endpoints or admin-ajax handlers
- Repeated queries to plugin-specific paths under /wp-json/rankmath/ or requests referencing Rank Math actions
- Access patterns from Subscriber or Contributor accounts that deviate from typical content-consumption behavior
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for authenticated requests to Rank Math SEO endpoints originating from non-editorial user roles
- Correlate response payload sizes from Rank Math endpoints against a known baseline to identify anomalous data returns
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule to inspect and log traffic targeting the vulnerable plugin paths
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the WordPress REST API and admin-ajax subsystem, then forward events to a centralized SIEM
- Track failed and successful authentication events for low-privilege accounts that subsequently access plugin endpoints
- Alert on newly created WordPress user accounts followed by immediate access to Rank Math functionality
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-64351
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Rank Math SEO plugin to a version later than 1.0.252.1 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor
- Audit existing low-privilege WordPress accounts and remove or disable any that are inactive or unrecognized
- Rotate any credentials, API keys, or tokens that may have been embedded in plugin responses if exposure is suspected
Patch Information
Versions of Rank Math SEO through 1.0.252.1 are affected. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the WordPress plugin repository for the fixed release and apply it across all environments.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to WordPress user registration and require administrator approval for new accounts
- Deploy a WAF rule that blocks or rate-limits Rank Math SEO endpoints for non-administrative users until patching completes
- Temporarily deactivate the Rank Math SEO plugin on sites where a patched release cannot be applied immediately
# Configuration example: disable the plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate seo-by-rank-math
# After upgrading, verify installed version
wp plugin get seo-by-rank-math --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
