# CVE-2026-5464: Missing authorization in ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin)

> Authenticated attackers with Editor access can install arbitrary plugins via a missing authorization check, leading to remote code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 23 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wx6x-8rvm-6rmr

## What is CVE-2026-5464?

CVE-2026-5464 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin), published on 23 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized arbitrary plugin installation and activation in all versions up to, and including, 9.1.2. This is due to the reports page exposing the 'onboarding_key' transient to any user with the 'exactmetrics_view_dashboard' capability. This key is the sole authorization gate for the '/wp-json/exactmetrics/v1/onboarding/connect-url' REST endpoint, which returns a one-time hash (OTH) token. This OTH token is then the only credential checked by the 'exactmetrics_connect_process' AJAX endpoint — which has no capability check, no nonce verification, and accepts an arbitrary plugin ZIP URL via the file parameter for installation and activation. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Editor-level access and above granted the report viewing permission, to install and activate arbitrary plugins from attacker-controlled URLs, leading to Remote Code Execution.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-5464?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-5464?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-5464 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-5464 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-5464 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-5464 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-5464 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin), published on 23 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-5464 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5464/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5464/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-5464
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-5464
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-5464

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5464/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.