CVE-2020-36698Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Subscriber file manipulation via nonce-exposed AJAX actions

Published Oct 20, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Missing authorization in Security by CleanTalk 2.50 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete, download, or upload files. The administrative dashboard exposes a security nonce, and several AJAX actions accept that nonce without checking the caller's WordPress capability. Subscriber-level access reaches these actions, enabling arbitrary file manipulation and privileged function calls within the site.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Security by CleanTalk 2.50 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete, download, or upload files. The administrative dashboard exposes a security nonce, and several AJAX actions accept that nonce without checking the caller's WordPress capability. Subscriber-level access reaches these actions, enabling arbitrary file manipulation and privileged function calls within the site.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36698
Published
Oct 20, 2023
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
CleanTalk
Product
Security by CleanTalk
Classifications
CWE-862, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=2.50

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

CleanTalk · Security by CleanTalkversion=0 <=2.50

Published CVSS scores

8.8WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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