CVE-2021-4333 in WP Statistics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2023
The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 13.1.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the view() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to activate and deactivate arbitrary plugins, via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress represents a widely used analytics solution that tracks website visitor data and provides detailed reporting capabilities. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 13.1.1, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for monitoring their web traffic and user engagement metrics. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's core functionality, specifically targeting the view() function that handles user requests and administrative operations.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing or incorrect nonce validation mechanism within the view() function of the WP Statistics plugin. A nonce is a cryptographic value that is unique to each request and serves as a security token to verify that the request originates from a legitimate source rather than being forged by an attacker. In this case, the absence of proper nonce validation creates a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows malicious actors to craft forged HTTP requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This weakness directly violates the principle of proper authentication and authorization controls that should be implemented in all web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the ability to activate and deactivate arbitrary plugins on affected WordPress sites. This capability can lead to severe consequences including the disruption of website functionality, potential introduction of additional malware through compromised plugins, or even complete site compromise if the attacker can leverage this access to install malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction from the administrator, who only needs to be tricked into clicking on a malicious link that triggers the forged request. This social engineering component makes the attack vector particularly effective and difficult to prevent through traditional security measures alone.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The attack pattern follows the typical characteristics described in the ATT&CK framework under T1212 - Exploitation for Credential Access, as the vulnerability allows attackers to perform administrative actions without proper authentication. The threat landscape for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that WordPress remains one of the most popular content management systems, with millions of installations worldwide that may be affected by this flaw. Organizations using the affected plugin versions face potential exposure to unauthorized plugin modifications that could compromise their entire website infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should begin with immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation issue. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including network monitoring to detect unusual plugin activation patterns, regular security audits of installed plugins, and user education to recognize potentially malicious links. The implementation of additional security layers such as web application firewalls and proper access controls can help reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates across all WordPress installations and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to recover quickly from any compromise. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the WordPress ecosystem and ensure overall security posture remains robust against evolving attack vectors.