CVE-2026-22517 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Passionate Brains GA4WP: Google Analytics for WordPress plugin, versions up to 2.10.0. This vulnerability stems from improperly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, which fail to adequately verify whether a user has the necessary permissions before allowing certain actions. Specifically, users with limited privileges (PR:L) can exploit this flaw to perform unauthorized operations that can alter plugin settings or disrupt its normal functioning. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N). The impact primarily affects the integrity and availability of the plugin’s data and services, potentially leading to manipulation or denial of analytics data critical for business decisions. Although no public exploits have been reported, the medium CVSS score of 5.4 reflects a moderate risk due to the ease of exploitation combined with the scope of affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for WordPress sites that rely on GA4WP for integrating Google Analytics, which is common among European organizations. The lack of an official patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate mitigation through access control audits and monitoring. The vulnerability was published on January 8, 2026, by Patchstack, highlighting the need for vigilance in plugin security management.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can compromise the integrity and availability of Google Analytics data collected via the GA4WP plugin, potentially leading to inaccurate analytics reporting and impaired decision-making. Attackers exploiting this flaw could manipulate analytics configurations or disrupt data collection, affecting marketing, compliance reporting, and operational insights. Organizations relying heavily on data-driven strategies may experience degraded service quality or loss of trust in analytics data. Additionally, unauthorized changes could introduce further security risks or operational disruptions. Since WordPress is widely used across Europe, especially in sectors like e-commerce, media, and public services, the impact could be significant if exploited at scale. The vulnerability requires some level of authenticated access, so insider threats or compromised accounts pose a particular risk. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat levels but does not eliminate the risk of future attacks. Overall, the vulnerability could lead to moderate operational and reputational damage if not addressed promptly.

1. Monitor official channels from Passionate Brains for security patches and apply updates to GA4WP immediately upon release. 2. Conduct a thorough audit of user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure that only trusted users have privileges that could exploit this vulnerability. 3. Implement the principle of least privilege by restricting access to plugin management and analytics configuration to essential personnel only. 4. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the GA4WP plugin endpoints. 5. Regularly review and monitor logs for unusual activities related to plugin configuration changes or access attempts. 6. Consider isolating analytics-related functionalities or using alternative plugins with stronger access controls until a patch is available. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of secure credential management. 8. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for WordPress admin accounts to reduce the risk of account compromise. 9. Backup website and analytics configuration data regularly to enable quick recovery in case of exploitation. 10. Engage in proactive vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on WordPress plugins to identify similar weaknesses early.