Missing authorization in smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-862.
Summary
The ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Missing Authorization in versions up to and including 9.1.2. This is due to missing capability checks in the get_ads_access_token() and reset_experience() AJAX handlers. While the mi-admin-nonce is localized on all admin pages (including profile.php which subscribers can access), and while other similar AJAX endpoints in the same class properly check for the exactmetrics_save_settings capability, these two endpoints only verify the nonce. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to retrieve valid Google Ads access tokens and reset Google Ads integration settings.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| smub | ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) | up to 9.1.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) Vendorsmub Affected up to 9.1.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-5488
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-36m8-qf73-626j
References
Other 9
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6a4359e4-5843-4d2c-b288-5c35f819241a?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/ppc/google/class-exactmetrics-google-ads.php#L243
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.0.3/includes/ppc/google/class-exactmetrics-google-ads.php#L243
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/ppc/google/class-exactmetrics-google-ads.php#L167
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.0.3/includes/ppc/google/class-exactmetrics-google-ads.php#L167
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/admin/admin-assets.php#L196
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.0.3/includes/admin/admin-assets.php#L196
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3513041%40google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp&new=3513041%40google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
- https://research.cleantalk.org/cve-2026-5488
More smub vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-07755 WPCode <= 2.3.5 - Authenticated (Author+) Remote Code Execution via CPT Capability Bypass via XML-RPC wp.newPost CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-83530 Remote code execution in NextGEN Gallery plugin for WordPress CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-78567 PHP object injection in Duplicator and Duplicator Pro plugins CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-01649 ExactMetrics 8.6.0 - 9.0.2 - Authenticated (Custom) Insecure Direct Object Reference to Arbitrary Plugin Installation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-01160 Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery <= 4.0.4 - Authenticated (Author+) Local File Inclusion CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2025-12465 Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery <= 3.59.12 - Authenticated… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-5488 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-5488 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-36m8-qf73-626j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences