Discourse CVEs & Vulnerabilities

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, DetailedTagSerializer#tag_group_names returned every tag group a tag belonged to without filtering against the requesting user's visibility. With SiteSetting.tags_listed_by_group enabled, anonymous and unprivileged users hitting TagsController#info (which is exempt from requires_login) could read the names of tag groups restricted to specific user groups or non-visible categories. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, the MessageBus.publish call for /web_hook_events/<id> in Jobs::RedeliverWebHookEvents did not pass group_ids, leaving the channel readable by any authenticated user (or anonymous user on instances where login_required is disabled). Webhook IDs are sequential integers and trivially enumerable. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, a path traversal vulnerability in Discourse backup handling could allow an authenticated administrator on one site in a multisite deployment to access backup files belonging to another site when backups are stored locally. In affected configurations, an admin on Site A could potentially retrieve sensitive backup data from Site B (same host, multisite) by crafting a backup download request with a traversal payload. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, four authorization/disclosure issues in the chat plugin (one also involving discourse-calendar): read-only category users could create chat threads, self-deleted chat messages could be restored by their author after channel access was revoked, moderators reviewing a flagged chat message were shown the channel's current last_message (often unrelated DM content), and calendar event payloads exposed the attached chat channel and its last message to viewers without chat access (including anonymous users). This affects sites with the chat plugin enabled; the calendar issue additionally requires discourse-calendar. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, chat events for public category channels are published to MessageBus without permission scoping, so any MessageBus subscriber without chat enabled could receive chat message payloads in real time. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, the AI "explain" helper only checks can_see? on the post being explained, not its reply_to_post, so any authenticated user with access to the AI helper could read the raw contents of a hidden parent post by invoking "Explain" on a reply to it. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, group owners who are not necessarily admins or moderators can view a group's outgoing email/SMTP credentials in plaintext via the group history log (/groups/:name/logs.json). Affected fields: email_password, email_username, smtp_server, smtp_port, smtp_ssl_mode. The most sensitive item is the SMTP password, which an owner could use to send mail as the group from outside Discourse. This impacts sites that have configured per-group SMTP credentials and granted group ownership to users who should not have access to those credentials. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, a flaw in how replies to whisper posts are handled allows authenticated users outside the groups configured in whispers_allowed_groups to post into a topic's staff-only whisper channel. The injected content is visible to whisperers (typically staff) alongside legitimate whispers. Only sites that have whispers enabled are affected. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, GroupPostSerializer declared include_user_long_name? as the predicate for its :name attribute, but AMS looks for include_name?. The misnamed predicate was never called, so object.user.name was always serialized regardless of SiteSetting.enable_names. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, ReviewableQueuedPostSerializer unconditionally included payload["raw_email"] for posts that arrived via incoming email. Category moderation group members reaching the review queue could therefore read the full inbound email source (headers, sender trace, MUA, body) without being in view_raw_email_allowed_groups — the trust boundary that gates the dedicated raw-email endpoint. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.4, 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.1, and 2026.4.0-latest to before 2026.4.1, bot debug endpoints disclose whisper translation audit logs. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.4, 2026.3.1, 2026.4.1, and 2026.5.0-latest.1.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From versions 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.3, 2026.2.0-latest to before 2026.2.2, and 2026.3.0-latest to before 2026.3.0, the enter action in StaticController reads the sso_destination_url cookie and redirects to it with allow_other_host: true without validating the destination URL. While this cookie is normally set during legitimate DiscourseConnect Provider flows with cryptographically validated SSO payloads, cookies are client-controlled and can be set by attackers. This issue has been patched in versions 2026.1.3, 2026.2.2, and 2026.3.0.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, a non-staff user with elevated group membership could access deleted posts belonging to any user due to an overly broad authorization check on the deleted posts index endpoint. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, an unauthenticated attacker can cause a legitimate Discourse authorization page to display an attacker-controlled domain, facilitating social engineering attacks against users. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, users with tag-editing permissions could edit and create synonyms for tags hidden in restricted tag groups, even if they lacked visibility into those tags. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, unauthenticated users can determine whether a specific user is a member of a private group by observing changes in directory results when using the `exclude_groups` parameter. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, disable public access to the user directory via Admin → Settings → hide user profiles from public.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, an attacker can grant access to a private message topic through invites even after they lose access to that PM. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, staff can modify any user's group notification level. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the `ip_address` of a flagged user is exposed to any user who can access the review queue, including users who should not be able to see IP addresses. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a potential stored XSS in topic titles for the solved posts stream. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, ensure that the Content Security Policy is enabled, and has not been modified in a way which would make it more vulnerable to XSS attacks.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, moderators can create Zendesk tickets for topics they do not have access to view. This affects all forums that use the Zendesk plugin. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, an authorization bypass vulnerability in hidden Solved topics may allow unauthorized users to accept or unaccept solutions. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, ensure only trusted users are part of the Site Setting for accept_all_solutions_allowed_groups.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, there is an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability that allows any authenticated user to access metadata about AI personas, features, and LLM models by providing their identifiers. This information includes credit allocations and usage statistics which are not intended to be public. The attack is performed over the network, requires low privileges (any logged-in user), and results in a low impact on confidentiality with no impact on integrity or availability. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. To work around this issue, disable AI plugin or upgrade to a patched version.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the ComposerController#mentions endpoint reveals hidden group membership to any authenticated user who can message the group. By supplying allowed_names referencing a hidden-membership group and probing arbitrary usernames, an attacker can infer membership based on whether user_reasons returns "private" for a given user. This bypasses group member-visibility controls. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. To work around this issue, restrict the messageable policy of any hidden-membership group to staff or group members only, so untrusted users cannot reach the vulnerable code path.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, an authorization bypass in the poll plugin allowed authenticated users to vote on, remove votes from, or toggle the open/closed status of polls they did not have access to. By passing post_id as an array (e.g. post_id[]=&post_id[]=), the authorization check resolves to the accessible post while the poll lookup resolves to a different post's poll. This affects the vote, remove_vote, and toggle_status endpoints in DiscoursePoll::PollsController. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, a user could access another user's private activity due to insufficient authorization checks in the user actions endpoint. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, a moderator could exploit insufficient authorization checks to access metadata of posts they should not have permission to view. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 allow a moderator to edit site policy documents (ToS, guidelines, privacy policy) that they are explicitly prohibited from modifying. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, moderators were able to see the first 40 characters of post edits in PMs and private categories. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the discourse-graphviz plugin contains a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious JavaScript code through DOT graph definitions. For instances with CSP disabled only. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, disable the graphviz plugin, upgrade to a patched version, or enable a content security policy.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have two authorization issues in the chat direct message API. First, when creating a direct message channel or adding users to an existing one, the `target_groups` parameter was passed directly to the user resolution query without checking group or member visibility for the acting user. An authenticated chat user could craft an API request with a known private/hidden group name and receive a channel containing that group's members, leaking their identities. Second, `can_chat?` only checked group membership, not the `chat_enabled` user preference. A chat-disabled user could create or query DM channels between other users via the direct messages API, potentially exposing private `last_message` content from the serialized channel response. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the Post Edits admin report (/admin/reports/post_edits) leaked the first 40 characters of raw post content from private messages and secure categories to moderators who shouldn't have access. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the `allowed_spam_host_domains` check used `String#end_with?` without domain boundary validation, allowing domains like `attacker-example.com` to bypass spam protection when `example.com` was allowlisted. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 require exact match or proper subdomain match (preceded by `.`) to prevent suffix-based bypass of `newuser_spam_host_threshold`. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the `/private-posts` endpoint did not apply post-type visibility filtering, allowing regular PM participants to see whisper posts in PM topics they had access to. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, when a user has `hide_profile` enabled, their bio, location, and website were still exposed through the user onebox preview. An authenticated user could request a onebox for a hidden user's profile URL and receive their hidden profile fields (bio, location, website) in the response. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, users who do not belong to the allowed policy creation groups can create functional policy acceptance widgets in posts under the right conditions. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, disable the discourse-policy plugin by disabling the `policy_enabled` site setting.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a security flaw in the discourse-policy plugin which allowed a user with policy creation permission to gain membership access to any private/restricted groups. Once membership to a private/restricted group has been obtained, the user will be able to read private topics that only the group has access to. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, review all policies for the use of `add-users-to-group` and temporarily remove the attribute from the policy. Alternatively, disable the discourse-policy plugin by disabling the `policy_enabled` site setting.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, a restriction bypass allows restricted post action counts to be disclosed to non-privileged users through a carefully crafted request. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a vulnerability in an API endpoint that discloses private topic metadata of admin users to moderator users even if the moderators do not have access to the private topics. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a lack of visibility checks with a user action API endpoint that results in disclosure of the title and post excerpt to unauthorized users, leading to information disclosure. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises because the system trusts the raw output from an AI Large Language Model (LLM) and renders it using htmlSafe in the Review Queue interface without adequate sanitization. A malicious attacker can use valid Prompt Injection techniques to force the AI to return a malicious payload (e.g., tags). When a Staff member (Admin/Moderator) views the flagged post in the Review Queue, the payload executes. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, temporarily disable AI triage automation scripts.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, the onebox method in the SharedAiConversation model renders the conversation title directly into HTML without proper sanitization. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, tighten access by changing the `ai_bot_public_sharing_allowed_groups` site setting.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, a type coercion issue in a post actions API endpoint allowed non-staff users to issue warnings to other users. Warnings are a staff-only moderation feature. The vulnerability required the attacker to be a logged-in user and to send a specifically crafted request. No data exposure or privilege escalation beyond the ability to create unauthorized user warnings was possible. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, requesting /posts/:id.json?version=X bypassed authorization checks on post revisions. The display_post method called post.revert_to directly without verifying whether the revision was hidden or if the user had permission to view edit history. This meant hidden revisions (intentionally concealed by staff) could be read by any user by simply enumerating version numbers. Starting in versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2, Discourse looks up the PostRevision and call guardian.ensure_can_see! before reverting, consistent with how the /posts/:id/revisions/:revision endpoint already authorizes access. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1 and 2026.1.2, insufficient cleanup in the default Codepen allowed iframes value allows an attacker to trick a user into changing the URL of the main page. This issue has been fixed in versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1 and 2026.1.2. To workaround this issue, remove Codepen from the list of allowed iframes.

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0, TL4 users can publish topics into staff-only categories via the `publish_to_category` topic timer, bypassing authorization checks. Versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 patch the issue. No known workarounds are available.

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0, an improper authorization check in the topic management logic allows authenticated users to modify privileged attributes of their topics. By manipulating specific parameters in a PUT or POST request, a regular user can elevate a topic’s status to a site-wide notice or banner, bypassing intended administrative restrictions. Versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 patch the issue. There are no practical workarounds to prevent this behavior other than applying the security patch. Administrators concerned about unauthorized promotions should audit recent changes to site banners and global notices until the fix is deployed.

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0, fail-open access control in Data Explorer plugin allows any authenticated user to execute SQL queries that have no explicit group assignments, including built-in system queries. Versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 patch the issue. As a workaround, either explicitly set group permissions on each Data Explorer query that doesn't have permissions, or disable discourse-data-explorer plugin.