CVE-2026-16618: Improve SEO (WordPress plugin) · Unrestricted File Upload
Affects Improve SEO (WordPress plugin)Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 2 Nov 2026, 22:58 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.8% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 57% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Improve SEO | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
Until a fix is available, restrict file upload permissions and consider disabling the plugin if possible. Monitor for suspicious uploads and remove any unauthorized files from publicly accessible directories.
Description
The Improve SEO WordPress plugin versions up to and including 2.0.11 contains a vulnerability that allows unauthenticated users to upload executable PHP files due to improper validation of uploaded files. The plugin only checks the file content type but writes files with attacker-supplied extensions into a publicly accessible directory, enabling remote code execution.