CVE-2026-15946 — Search Atlas SEO <= 2.6.23 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Whitelabel Password Modification via handle_whitelabel_password_early Function
The Search Atlas SEO – Premier SEO Plugin for One-Click WP Publishing & Integrated AI Optimization plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass in all versions up to, and including, 2.6.23. This is due to the plugin not properly verifying that a user is authorized to perform an action. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to overwrite the whitelabel settings password to an attacker-controlled value, enabling them to unlock whitelabel-protected admin settings tabs including whitelabel, general, and advanced configuration.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (medium)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Shahrukhlinkgraph Search Atlas SEO – OTTO AI SEO Automation for WordPress).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (access control), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahrukhlinkgraph | Search Atlas SEO – OTTO AI SEO Automation for WordPress | ≤ 2.6.23 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 2.8 | 1.4 | security@wordfence.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.3 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | Wordfence via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N (score shown at the top: security@wordfence.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Audit administrative actions and access to resources outside each user’s normal pattern.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · shahrukhlinkgraph/search atlas seo – otto ai seo automation for wordpress
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 4.3
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
8 on the record
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.17/includes/class-metasync-settings-registr
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.16/admin/class-metasync-admin.php
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.17/includes/class-metasync-connect-manager.
- www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/56d839b0-b29d-4299-af77-1ce97a5925f6
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.16/includes/class-metasync-settings-registr
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.17/admin/class-metasync-admin.php
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/metasync/tags/2.6.16/includes/class-metasync-connect-manager.
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3676919
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-15947 Search Atlas SEO <= 2.6.23 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Site-Wide Option Modification via 'metasync_post_types' Parameter 26d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-15946 is "Search Atlas SEO <= 2.6.23 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Whitelabel Password Modification via handle_whitelabel_password_early Function", rated Medium. It affects Search Atlas SEO – OTTO AI SEO Automation for WordPress (Shahrukhlinkgraph); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 4.3 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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