Burst Statistics <= 3.7.1 — Improper Authentication to Account Persistence via Share-Link Authentication Bypass via 'burst_share_token'

Am I affected?

• Check your version: in wp-admin go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and read the version under Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative).
• No admin access? Run a passive check of your site. It reads public files only.

What to do

1. Update to version 3.7.2, or a newer patched version
2. Rotate administrator passwords and application secrets if the site ran a vulnerable version while publicly reachable.
3. Watch Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) to get an email when the next vulnerability is published.

Advisory

Source description from Wordfence Intelligence, credited to crow.

The Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Improper Authentication leading to Account Persistence in all versions up to, and including, 3.7.1. This is due to the `maybe_load_shared_dashboard()` handler issuing a genuine WordPress session cookie for the `burst_statistics_viewer` account to any visitor presenting a valid share token via `wp_set_auth_cookie()`, while the plugin only blocks Application Passwords for the resulting `burst_viewer` role and does not restrict the core `/wp-json/wp/v2/users/me` password update endpoint or filter the `edit_user` capability for that account — leaving WordPress core's built-in rule that any authenticated user may update their own account fully in effect. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to set an attacker-chosen password on the `burst_statistics_viewer` WordPress account, constituting a permanent takeover of that limited-privilege (`view_burst_statistics`) account that persists through share-token revocation, share-token expiration, and execution of the plugin's daily `cleanup_viewer_sessions()` routine. Exploitation requires that the attacker have obtained a valid `burst_share_token`, such as one that has been shared publicly or distributed to an untrusted party.

Exploits & references

Proof-of-concept & detection

No public proof-of-concept or detection template is known for this vulnerability.

Advisories & patches

• Advisorywordfence.com

Related CVEs

Timeline

1. Oct 2, 2026

   CVE published

   Severity medium, CVSS 4.3

2. Nov 13, 2026

   Record last updated