CVE-2026-15947

Search Atlas SEO <= 2.6.23 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Site-Wide Option Modification via 'metasync_post_types' Parameter

2026-09-18 19:15
Wordfence PRISM

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 2.6.24
Affected Version
<= 2.6.23
CVSS
4.3Medium
Weakness type
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE
CVE-2026-15947
View all Search Atlas SEO – OTTO AI SEO Automation for WordPress vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2026-15947 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Search Atlas SEO WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 2.6.23. It carries a CVSS score of 4.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Subscriber level or above. The issue is fixed in version 2.6.24; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed September 2026, reported by Wordfence PRISM.

Vulnerability Overview

The Metasync plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the save_instant_indexing_settings() function in versions up to, and including, 2.6.23. This function is registered on the admin_init hook and only checks for the presence of $_POST['submit'] before writing attacker-supplied $_POST['metasync_post_types'] into the site-wide 'metasync_options_instant_indexing' option via update_option(); no current_user_can()/current_user_has_plugin_access() check and no nonce verification are performed. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to modify the site's Google Instant Indexing post-type configuration, controlling which post types are auto-submitted to Google's Instant Indexing service.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

Search Atlas SEO <= 2.6.23 carries this weakness at submit, and reaching it takes an account at Subscriber level or above. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For Search Atlas SEO the fix is 2.6.24: builds <= 2.6.23 are affected, anything from 2.6.24 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 2.6.24, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

Because it turns on account access, WordSec's login security is the relevant layer: role-based two-factor, captcha and brute-force limits raise the cost of getting the account this needs. None of that substitutes for the fix: Search Atlas SEO 2.6.24 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

Related records

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