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% (96th 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 96th 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% (96th 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% (96th 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:*:*

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