Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-51696 is a CSRF issue in the CleanTalk WordPress anti-spam/firewall plugin through version 6.20. It may let an attacker cause a user’s browser to make an unintended plugin-related request. Reported impact is limited integrity impact, with no confidentiality or availability impact in the CVSS data.
Executive priority
Treat as a normal-priority WordPress plugin update unless the plugin protects high-value public sites or administrative workflows. It is not KEV-listed in the provided data, but exposed CMS plugins should not remain outdated.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-352 in cleantalk-spam-protect, affecting Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk through 6.20. CVSS 3.1 is 4.3: network reachable, low complexity, no attacker privileges, user interaction required, unchanged scope, low integrity impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on WordPress sites that installed this CleanTalk plugin and have not moved beyond the vulnerable version range. The source bundle does not identify affected configurations beyond versions through 6.20.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cite active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires user interaction, consistent with CSRF risk, but the provided sources do not describe a specific abused action.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports CSRF classification and medium severity, but the bundle does not include endpoint details, proof-of-concept status, or a named fixed version. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond user-interaction CSRF characteristics reported in CVSS.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites using cleantalk-spam-protect.
- Check installed plugin versions against the vulnerable through-6.20 range.
- Review CleanTalk and Patchstack guidance for the fixed release or mitigation.
- Update the plugin when vendor-supported remediation is available.
- Limit administrative browsing from logged-in WordPress sessions where practical.
Validation and detection
- Confirm plugin name and version from WordPress administration or asset inventory.
- Check whether any site still runs version 6.20 or earlier.
- Review WordPress and plugin logs for unexpected configuration or workflow changes.
- Verify remediation status against vendor or Patchstack advisory details.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-352: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-51696 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.