User can bypass approval when invited to Discourse
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2.7.13 in `stable`, 2.8.0.beta11 in `beta`, and 2.8.0.beta11 in `tests-passed` allow some users to log in to a community before they should be able to do so. A user invited via email to a forum with `must_approve_users` enabled is going to be automatically logged in, bypassing the check that does not allow unapproved users to sign in. They will be able to do everything an approved user can do. If they logout, they cannot log back in. This issue is patched in the `stable` version 2.7.13, `beta` version 2.8.0.beta11, and `tests-passed` version 2.8.0.beta11. One may disable invites as a workaround. Administrators can increase `min_trust_level_to_allow_invite` to reduce the attack surface to more trusted users.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discourse | discourse | before 2.7.13; before 2.8.0.beta11 | 2.7.13, 2.8.0.beta11 | Patch available | CNA |
- discourse Vendordiscourse Affected before 2.7.13; before 2.8.0.beta11 Fixed in 2.7.13, 2.8.0.beta11 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 11
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.7.13 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta10:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta10 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta2 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta3 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta4 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta5 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta6 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta7 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.8.0 beta8 | Vulnerable | discourse |
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.7.13 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta10:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta10 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta3 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta4 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta5 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta6 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta7 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.8.0:beta8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 beta8 Vulnerable ·discourse
Remediation
- Fix · CNA discourse (discourse) Fixed in 2.7.13, 2.8.0.beta11
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-21684
References
More Discourse vulnerabilities
- TI-2021-19656 Denial of Service in discourse CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.8
- TI-2024-36150 Potential Backup file leaked via Nginx in Discourse CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2021-18002 RCE via malicious SNS subscription payload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-24651 Discourse: Open redirect via `sso_destination_url` cookie in `enter` CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.1
- TI-2026-22278 Discourse leaks private topic title and post excerpt via user action API endpoint CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2023-24152 Unauthenticated access to new private chat messages in Discourse CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences