How severe is CVE-2024-10542?

CVE-2024-10542 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2024-10542 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-10542?

CVE-2024-10542 affects Cleantalk Anti-spam. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-10542?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2024-10542 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-10542 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-33435.

When was CVE-2024-10542 published?

CVE-2024-10542 was published on 2024-11-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-10542

CVE-2024-10542 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Cleantalk Anti-spam with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 15% places it in the 97th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-862.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 15% (97th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-33435
Weakness: CWE-862
Affected product: Cleantalk Anti-spam
Published: 2024-11-26
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized Arbitrary Plugin Installation due to an authorization bypass via reverse DNS spoofing on the checkWithoutToken function in all versions up to, and including, 6.43.2. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins which can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution if another vulnerable plugin is installed and activated.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-10542?: The Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized Arbitrary Plugin Installation due to an authorization bypass via reverse DNS spoofing on the checkWithoutToken function in all versions up to, and including, 6.43.2. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins which can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution if another vulnerable plugin is installed and activated.
How severe is CVE-2024-10542?: CVE-2024-10542 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-10542 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-10542?: CVE-2024-10542 affects Cleantalk Anti-spam. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-10542?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2024-10542 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-10542 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-33435.
When was CVE-2024-10542 published?: CVE-2024-10542 was published on 2024-11-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:cleantalk:anti-spam:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Cleantalk Anti-spam

CVE-2021-24131 — High (CVSS 7.2): Unvalidated input in the Anti-Spam by CleanTalk WordPress plugin, versions before 5.149, lead to multiple authenticated…
CVE-2026-10770 — Medium (CVSS 6.1): Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ("Cross-site Scripting") vulnerability in Drupal Anti-Spam…
CVE-2026-3213 — Medium (CVSS 4.7): Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ("Cross-site Scripting") vulnerability in Drupal Anti-Spam…
CVE-2023-51696 — Medium (CVSS 4.3): Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in СleanTalk - Anti-Spam Protection Spam protection, Anti-Spam,…

All CVEs affecting Cleantalk Anti-spam →

Other CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-101000 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability was determined in Netcore NBR100V2 1.3.240614.030928. This affects the function uci.apply of the file…
CVE-2026-97360 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): HFS2 version 2.4.0 and earlier contains an unauthenticated arbitrary file access vulnerability that allows…
CVE-2026-65381 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A validation issue existed in the entitlement verification. This issue was addressed with improved validation of the…
CVE-2026-81648 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The CryptoPayment Gateway WordPress plugin from 1.2.1 to 1.2.2 does not apply an authorization check on one of its AJAX…
CVE-2026-77770 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The miniOrange 2FA WordPress plugin before 6.3.1, miniOrange 2FA WordPress plugin before 19.3 does not require a…
CVE-2026-65667 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Missing authorization in Microsoft Teams allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Browse all CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) vulnerabilities →