CVE-2020-36698
Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk <= 2.50 - Missing Authorization
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.8
Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk <= 2.50 - Missing Authorization
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.
- Record
CVE-2020-36698- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-862
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-24140
8.8
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.
- Record
EUVD-2020-24140- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c55p-cv2w-vc32
8.8
The Security & Malware scan by CleanTalk plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized user...
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.
- Record
GHSA-c55p-cv2w-vc32- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-862
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2020-36698- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-862
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-36698 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Cleantalk Login Security, Firewall, Malware Removal By Cleantalk, published October 20, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.18%, the 67th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/0fb9b039-eb04-4c27-89eb-1932c9c31962?source=cve
blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-vulnerabilities-fixed-in-security-malware-scan-by-cleantalk-plugin
wpscan.com/vulnerability/23960f42-dfc1-4951-9169-02d889283f01
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36698
github.com/advisories/GHSA-c55p-cv2w-vc32