CVE-2024-10542Network attack vector

Unauthenticated plugin installation via spoofed reverse DNS

Published Nov 26, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Spam Protection 6.43.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. The checkWithoutToken function trusts a reverse-DNS hostname that attackers can spoof instead of requiring a valid authorization token. No account or user interaction is required; code execution additionally requires installation and activation of another vulnerable plugin.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability15.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Spam Protection 6.43.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. The checkWithoutToken function trusts a reverse-DNS hostname that attackers can spoof instead of requiring a valid authorization token. No account or user interaction is required; code execution additionally requires installation and activation of another vulnerable plugin.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-10542
Published
Nov 26, 2024
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
CleanTalk
Product
Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk
Classifications
CWE-862, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 26, 2024CVE 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=6.43.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CleanTalk · Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalkversion=0 <=6.43.2

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
9.8WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo