# CVE-2026-1490: Auth bypass in Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk

> Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authorization via DNS spoofing to install arbitrary plugins, potentially leading to remote code execution on sites with invalid API keys.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Feb 2026
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r6q3-r9p8-6prh

## What is CVE-2026-1490?

CVE-2026-1490 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk, published on 15 Feb 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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 (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.

Weakness: CWE-350 (Reliance on Reverse DNS Resolution for a Security-Critical Action)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-1490?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-1490?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-1490 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-1490 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-1490 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-1490 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-1490 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk, published on 15 Feb 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-1490 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1490/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1490/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-1490
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1490
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-1490

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1490/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.