CVE•Published 2023-10-20•Modified 2026-04-08•1 article on news•6 live references•NVD data

CVE-2020-36698Cleantalk · Security_\&_malware_scan

Vulnerability data via NVD (ingested)

CVSS v3.1

8.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS percentile

Exploit Prediction Scoring System · top 50% of all CVEs

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-862Missing Authorization

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.

Timeline

Published 2023-10-20

Modified 2026-04-08

External references

NVD MITRE Exploit-DB GitHub PoC trickest/cve VulnCheck

Search for exposed instances

Shodan + Censys queries derived from NVD's CPE data. The vuln tag catches assets Shodan has explicitly linked to this CVE; the product / banner fingerprints find exposed instances even when the vuln tag was never applied (which is common).

Shodan · vuln tag0 hosts

vuln:CVE-2020-36698

Hosts Shodan has explicitly fingerprinted as vulnerable.

Shodan · WP plugin path

http.html:"/wp-content/plugins/security-\&-malware-scan/"

Matches any site loading the "security-\&-malware-scan" plugin — doesn't rely on Shodan's vuln tag.

Shodan · product

product:"Cleantalk Security \& Malware Scan"

All exposed Cleantalk Security \& Malware Scan instances — cross-reference with the CVE's affected-version range.

Shodan · banner/body mention

http.html:"Security \& Malware Scan"

HTTP body or banner mentions "Security \& Malware Scan" — catches deploys Shodan didn't identify as a product.