Information Disclosure in SmartCrawl SEO Plugin for WordPress
CVE-2026-16979

4.3MEDIUM

Key Information:

Vendor

WordPress
Status
Smartcrawl Seo Checker, Analyzer & Optimizer
Vendor
CVE Published:
19 August 2026

Badges

👾 Exploit Exists🟡 Public PoC

What is CVE-2026-16979?

The SmartCrawl SEO plugin for WordPress, prior to version 3.16.3, has a security flaw that allows users with a Subscriber role to bypass capability checks on certain AJAX actions. This vulnerability enables these users to access titles of private and draft posts by their ID, as well as enumerate private post-meta key names, potentially disclosing sensitive information not meant for them.

Affected Version(s)

SmartCrawl SEO checker, analyzer & optimizer 0 < 3.16.3

Exploit Proof of Concept (PoC)

PoC code is written by security researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability can be exploited. PoC code is also a key component for weaponization which could lead to ransomware.

CVE-2026-16979 - Proof of Concept

References

https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/c9eb27aa-c5f9-4f1c-b87c-...
exploitvdb-entrytechnical-description

CVSS V3.1

Score:
4.3
Severity:
MEDIUM
Confidentiality:
Low
Integrity:
None
Availability:
Low
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
Low
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • 🟡

    Public PoC available

  • 👾

    Exploit known to exist

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Credit

Ezekiel Victor
WPScan
.