Email activation route can be abused by spammers in Discourse
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-770.
Summary
Discourse is the an open source discussion platform. In affected versions an email activation route can be abused to send mass spam emails. A fix has been included in the latest stable, beta and tests-passed versions of Discourse which rate limits emails. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should manually rate limit email.
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 2.8.7; before 2.9.0.beta8 | 2.8.7, 2.9.0.beta8 | Patch available | CNA |
- discourse Vendordiscourse Affected before 2.8.7; before 2.9.0.beta8 Fixed in 2.8.7, 2.9.0.beta8 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.8.6 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta2 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta3 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta4 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta5 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta6 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta7 | Vulnerable | discourse |
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.8.6 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta3 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta4 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta5 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta6 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta7 Vulnerable ·discourse
Remediation
- Fix · CNA discourse (discourse) Fixed in 2.8.7, 2.9.0.beta8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-31184
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