CVE-2026-1993: ExactMetrics (WordPress plugin) · Improper Privilege Management
Affects ExactMetrics (WordPress plugin)Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 11:52 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 33% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Mar 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 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| smubExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2026-1993, organizations should immediately audit user roles and capabilities related to the ExactMetrics plugin, ensuring that only fully trusted users have the exactmetrics_save_settings capability. Restrict this capability to site administrators or equivalent trusted roles. Until an official patch is released, consider temporarily disabling the plugin or removing the capability from all users except the highest privileged administrators. Implement strict monitoring and logging of changes to plugin settings to detect unauthorized modifications. Employ WordPress security best practices such as limiting plugin installations, enforcing strong authentication, and using role management plugins that provide granular control over capabilities. Once the vendor releases a patch, apply it promptly. Additionally, consider implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the update_settings() function or attempts to modify the save_settings option. Regularly review plugin updates and security advisories to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and fixes.
Description
The ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Improper Privilege Management in versions 7.1.0 through 9.0.2. This is due to the `update_settings()` function accepting arbitrary plugin setting names without a whitelist of allowed settings. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the `exactmetrics_save_settings` capability to modify any plugin setting, including the `save_settings` option that controls which user roles have access to plugin functionality. The admin intended to delegate configuration access to a trusted user, not enable that user to delegate access to everyone. By setting `save_settings` to include `subscriber`, an attacker can grant plugin administrative access to all subscribers on the site.
References
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/1c1ce474-ecce-4d21-b174-cb54a2441b2b?source=cve (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/admin/routes.php (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/7.15.3/includes/admin/routes.php (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3473805/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/capabilities.php?old=2897321&old_path=google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp%2Ftrunk%2Fincludes%2Fcapabilities.php (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3473805/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/trunk/includes/admin/routes.php?old=3453934&old_path=google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp%2Ftrunk%2Fincludes%2Fadmin%2Froutes.php (opens in a new tab)