CVE-2026-1490: Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk <= 6.71 - Authorization Bypass via Reverse DNS (PTR record) Spoofing to Unauthenticated Arbitrary Plugin Installation

Published Feb 15, 2026
·
Updated

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 (PTR record) spoofing on the 'checkWithoutToken' function in all versions up to, and including, 6.71. 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. Note: This is only exploitable on sites with an invalid API key.

Affected Software

1 affected component
CleanTalk Anti-Spam by CleanTalk<=6.71

Event History

Feb 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:22 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:22 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-1490?

CVE-2026-1490 is considered a critical vulnerability due to its potential for unauthorized arbitrary plugin installation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-1490?

To fix CVE-2026-1490, update the CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin to version 6.72 or later to ensure protection against the vulnerability.

3

What versions of CleanTalk are affected by CVE-2026-1490?

CVE-2026-1490 affects versions of CleanTalk Anti-Spam by CleanTalk up to and including version 6.71.

4

What type of attack does CVE-2026-1490 enable?

CVE-2026-1490 enables an attacker to bypass authorization and install arbitrary plugins without authentication.

5

Who is the vendor of the affected software for CVE-2026-1490?

The vendor of the affected software for CVE-2026-1490 is CleanTalk.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
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