Administrator-browser script execution via page parameter
Published Apr 19, 2022 · Updated Feb 7, 2025
Reflected XSS in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 5.173 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in an administrator browser via crafted requests. The column_ct_comment function inserts the untrusted $_REQUEST['page'] value into spam-comment action links, enabling reflected script execution when WordPress processes the request. Exploitation requires tricking a logged-in administrator into visiting or submitting the malicious request; script execution can modify the site or create an administrator account, but requires that user interaction.
Summary
What happened
Reflected XSS in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 5.173 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in an administrator browser via crafted requests. The column_ct_comment function inserts the untrusted $_REQUEST['page'] value into spam-comment action links, enabling reflected script execution when WordPress processes the request. Exploitation requires tricking a logged-in administrator into visiting or submitting the malicious request; script execution can modify the site or create an administrator account, but requires that user interaction.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-28221
- Published
- Apr 19, 2022
- Updated
- Feb 7, 2025
- Vendor
- CleanTalk
- Product
- CleanTalk Anti-Spam
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1189
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 7, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.173 <=5.173
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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