discourse: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CVE-2024-49765 is a critical-severity exposure of private personal information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability in discourse, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected discourse versions: stable: <= 3.3.2; beta: <= 3.4.0.beta3; tests-passed: <= 3.4.0.beta3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of discourse you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discourse | discourse | stable: <= 3.3.2; beta: <= 3.4.0.beta3; tests-passed: <= 3.4.0.beta3 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.3 | Medium | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Sites that are using discourse connect but still have local logins enabled could allow attackers to bypass discourse connect to create accounts and login. This problem is patched in the latest version of Discourse. Users unable to upgrade who are using discourse connect may disable all other login methods as a workaround.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor
The product does not properly prevent a person's private, personal information from being accessed by actors who either (1) are not explicitly authorized to access the information or (2) do not have the implicit consent of the person about whom the information is collected.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Identify and consult all relevant regulations for personal privacy. An organization may be required to comply with certain federal and state regulations, depending on its location, the type of business it conducts, and the nature of any private data it handles. Regulations may include Safe Harbor Privacy Framework, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and others.
More Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities (CWE-359)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in discourse
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
Recent Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.