CVE-2026-3488

WP Statistics <= 14.16.4 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Sensitive Information Exposure and Privacy Audit Manipulation

2026-04-16 13:23
AlexHenry

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 14.16.5
Affected Version
<= 14.16.4
CVSS
6.5Medium
Weakness type
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE
CVE-2026-3488
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At a glance

CVE-2026-3488 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the WP Statistics WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 14.16.4. It carries a CVSS score of 6.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 14.16.5; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed April 2026, reported by AlexHenry.

Vulnerability Overview

The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Missing Authorization in all versions up to, and including, 14.16.4. This is due to missing capability checks on multiple AJAX handlers including `wp_statistics_get_filters`, `wp_statistics_getPrivacyStatus`, `wp_statistics_updatePrivacyStatus`, and `wp_statistics_dismiss_notices`. These endpoints only verify a `wp_rest` nonce via `check_ajax_referer()` but do not enforce any capability checks such as `current_user_can()` or the plugin's own `User::Access()` method. Since the `wp_rest` nonce is available to all authenticated WordPress users, this makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to access sensitive analytics data (user IDs, usernames, emails, visitor tracking data), retrieve and modify privacy audit compliance status, and dismiss administrative notices.

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 privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

WP Statistics <= 14.16.4 carries this weakness at check_ajax_referer(), and reaching it takes an account at Subscriber level or above. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For WP Statistics the fix is 14.16.5: builds <= 14.16.4 are affected, anything from 14.16.5 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 14.16.5, 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: WP Statistics 14.16.5 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

Related records

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