CVE-2026-1992

ExactMetrics 8.6.0 - 9.0.2 - Authenticated (Custom) Insecure Direct Object Reference to Arbitrary Plugin Installation

2026-03-10 21:00
Ali Sünbül

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 9.0.3
Affected Plugin
ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin)
Affected Version
8.0.0 – 9.0.2
CVSS
8.8High
Weakness type
CWE-639 · Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
CVE
CVE-2026-1992
View all ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2026-1992 is a high-severity Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in the ExactMetrics WordPress plugin, affecting versions 8.0.0 – 9.0.2. It carries a CVSS score of 8.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Custom level or above. The issue is fixed in version 9.0.3; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed March 2026, reported by Ali Sünbül.

Vulnerability Overview

The ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in versions 8.6.0 through 9.0.2. This is due to the `store_settings()` method in the `ExactMetrics_Onboarding` class accepting a user-supplied `triggered_by` parameter that is used instead of the current user's ID to check permissions. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the `exactmetrics_save_settings` capability to bypass the `install_plugins` capability check by specifying an administrator's user ID in the `triggered_by` parameter, allowing them to install arbitrary plugins and achieve Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability only affects sites on which administrator has given other user types the permission to view reports and can only be exploited by users of that type.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.

CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

ExactMetrics 8.0.0 – 9.0.2 carries this weakness at store_settings(), and reaching it takes an account at Custom level or above. Authorization bypass through a user-controlled key, often called insecure direct object reference, means the application looks up a record by an identifier from the request without checking that the caller owns it.

Changing a number in the request is enough to read or modify other users' records, which on commerce and membership sites means customer data. For ExactMetrics the fix is 9.0.3: builds 8.0.0 – 9.0.2 are affected, anything from 9.0.3 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 9.0.3, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

Because it turns on account access, WordSec's login security is the relevant layer: role-based two-factor, captcha and brute-force limits raise the cost of getting the account this needs. None of that substitutes for the fix: ExactMetrics 9.0.3 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-1992https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/79b6b896-df66-4c3d-a4d4-d3dbeb630134https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1992

Related records

Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C