High severity · published Oct 20, 2023
CVE-2020-36698
Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk <= 2.50 - Missing Authorization
8.8
CVSS
1.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
The Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized user interaction in versions up to, and including, 2.50. This is due to missing capability checks on several AJAX actions and nonce disclosure in the source page of the administrative dashboard. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to call functions and delete and/or upload files.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)1.2% · higher than 68% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
LS
Login Security, FireWall, Malware removal by CleanTalk · cleantalk
through 2.50 · source: vendor
SM
Security & Malware Scan · Cleantalk
before 2.51 · source: NVD
SM
Security \& Malware Scan · Cleantalk
through 2.50 · source: CISA
Affected product
LS
Login Security, FireWall, Malware removal by CleanTalk
cleantalk
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36698
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36698
Exploit
https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-vulnerabilities-fixed-in-security-malware-scan-by-cleantalk-plugin/
Third Party Advisory
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/23960f42-dfc1-4951-9169-02d889283f01
Third Party Advisory
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/0fb9b039-eb04-4c27-89eb-1932c9c31962?source=cve
More from Login Security, FireWall, Malware removal by CleanTalk
9.8
CVE-2024-13365
Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk <= 2.149 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload
7.5
CVE-2024-10570
Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk <= 2.145 - Authorization Bypass via Reverse DNS Spoofing to Unauthenticated SQL Injection
7.2
CVE-2025-13604
Login Security, FireWall, Malware removal by CleanTalk <= 2.168 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Page URL
