Any authenticated Discourse user can create an unlisted topic
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-770.
Summary
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. In version 2.8.13 and prior on the `stable` branch and version 2.9.0.beta14 and prior on the `beta` and `tests-passed` branches, any authenticated user can create an unlisted topic. These topics, which are not readily available to other users, can take up unnecessary site resources. A patch for this issue is available in the `main` branch of Discourse. There are no known workarounds available.
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 | up to 2.8.13; 2.9.0.beta0 – 2.9.0.beta14 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- discourse Vendordiscourse Affected up to 2.8.13; 2.9.0.beta0 – 2.9.0.beta14 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 14
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.8.13 | 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:beta10:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta10 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta11:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta11 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta12:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta12 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta13:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta13 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta14:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta14 | 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.8.13 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:beta10:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta10 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta11:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta11 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta12:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta12 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta13:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta13 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta14:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta14 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
Show 4 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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:2.9.0:beta8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.9.0 beta8 | 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
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2.9.0:beta8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.9.0 beta8 Vulnerable ·discourse
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-46159
- 2026-10-11 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
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