Rank Math Plugin - Privilege Escalation (CVE-2020-11514)

CVE-2020-11514 is a critical vulnerability in the Rank Math WordPress plugin up to version 1.0.40.2, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to update arbitrary WordPress metadata via an insecure REST API endpoint. This flaw can be exploited to escalate or revoke administrative privileges for existing users, potentially leading to full site compromise.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 24th of September 2025.

Data from the CrowdSec community indicates that exploitation of CVE-2020-11514 is highly selective and intelligence-driven. Threat actors use advanced reconnaissance and carefully choose their targets, often as part of sophisticated campaigns or advanced persistent threat operations. Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2020-11514 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2020-11514 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Attackers exploit the unprotected /wp-json/rankmath/v1/updateMeta REST API endpoint to escalate privileges or modify user metadata on vulnerable WordPress sites running the Rank Math SEO plugin.