CVE-2026-1490Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated plugin installation via spoofed PTR records

Published Feb 15, 2026 · Updated Feb 15, 2026

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 6.71 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. The checkWithoutToken path trusts a reverse-DNS PTR hostname as proof that a request came from a CleanTalk server without forward-confirming that hostname against the source IP. Exploitation requires an invalid, expired, or missing API key and grants installation and activation; code execution requires a separately vulnerable plugin.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in CleanTalk Anti-Spam 6.71 and earlier allows remote attackers to install and activate arbitrary WordPress plugins. The checkWithoutToken path trusts a reverse-DNS PTR hostname as proof that a request came from a CleanTalk server without forward-confirming that hostname against the source IP. Exploitation requires an invalid, expired, or missing API key and grants installation and activation; code execution requires a separately vulnerable plugin.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-1490
Published
Feb 15, 2026
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Vendor
CleanTalk
Product
Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk
Classifications
CWE-350, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 15, 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=* <=6.71

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CleanTalk · Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalkversion=* <=6.71

Published CVSS scores

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-350Reliance on Reverse DNS Resolution for a Security-Critical Action
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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