CVE-2024-10542: Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk (WordPress plugin) · Missing Authorization
Affects Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk (WordPress plugin)Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · 15% EPSS · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 09:08 UTC
- EPSS
- 15.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 96% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Nov 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| cleantalk Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
Until an official fix is released, restrict access to the affected plugin and monitor for suspicious activity. Avoid installing untrusted plugins and consider disabling the CleanTalk plugin if feasible. Follow vendor updates closely for an official patch or temporary mitigation.
Description
The Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized Arbitrary Plugin Installation due to an authorization bypass via reverse DNS spoofing on the checkWithoutToken function in all versions up to, and including, 6.43.2. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins which can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution if another vulnerable plugin is installed and activated.
References
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/d7eb5fad-bb62-4f0b-ad52-b16c3e442b62?source=cve (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/cleantalk-spam-protect/tags/6.43.2/lib/Cleantalk/ApbctWP/RemoteCalls.php (opens in a new tab)
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3179819/cleantalk-spam-protect (opens in a new tab)