CVE-2022-28222Network attack vector

Administrator session takeover via reflected page parameter

Published Apr 19, 2022 · Updated Feb 7, 2025

Reflected cross-site scripting in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 5.173 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in an administrator browser via a crafted WordPress request. The column_ct_username function in Users.php inserts the untrusted $_REQUEST['page'] value into generated user-management links without output encoding. Exploitation requires an administrator to follow an attacker-supplied link or submit a crafted form, enabling site takeover through the administrator session.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability2.93%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reflected cross-site scripting in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 5.173 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in an administrator browser via a crafted WordPress request. The column_ct_username function in Users.php inserts the untrusted $_REQUEST['page'] value into generated user-management links without output encoding. Exploitation requires an administrator to follow an attacker-supplied link or submit a crafted form, enabling site takeover through the administrator session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-28222
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

  1. Apr 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.173 <=5.173

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CleanTalk · CleanTalk Anti-Spamversion=5.173 <=5.173

Published CVSS scores

6.1WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1189Drive-by Compromise

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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