CVE-2024-10781Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated plugin installation via empty API key

Published Nov 26, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Spam protection 6.44 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. RemoteCalls::perform accepts a token equal to the MD5 or SHA-256 hash of an empty api_key because it does not reject an unconfigured key. Exploitation requires the plugin's API key to be unset; installation alters the site, and code execution additionally requires another vulnerable plugin.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability3.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Spam protection 6.44 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. RemoteCalls::perform accepts a token equal to the MD5 or SHA-256 hash of an empty api_key because it does not reject an unconfigured key. Exploitation requires the plugin's API key to be unset; installation alters the site, and code execution additionally requires another vulnerable plugin.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-10781
Published
Nov 26, 2024
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
CleanTalk
Product
Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk
Classifications
CWE-703, 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

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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 <=6.44

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CleanTalk · Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalkversion=0 <=6.44

Published CVSS scores

8.1WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/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.

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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 exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-703Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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