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TI-2023-12686 Aliases CVE-2023-28107

Discourse vulnerable to multisite DoS by spamming backups

Priority LOW 23CWE-770Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
High
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-770.

Summary

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.0.2 of the `stable` branch and version 3.1.0.beta3 of the `beta` and `tests-passed` branches, a user logged as an administrator can request backups multiple times, which will eat up all the connections to the DB. If this is done on a site using multisite, then it can affect the whole cluster. The vulnerability is patched in version 3.0.2 of the `stable` branch and version 3.1.0.beta3 of the `beta` and `tests-passed` branches. There are no known workarounds.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00652 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
discoursediscoursestable < 3.0.2; beta < 3.1.0.beta3; tests-passed < 3.1.0.beta3—No fix listedCNA
  • discourse Vendordiscourse Affected stable < 3.0.2; beta < 3.1.0.beta3; tests-passed < 3.1.0.beta3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 4

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:*up to 3.0.1Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:*before 3.1.0Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta1:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta1Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta2:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta2Vulnerablediscourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions up to 3.0.1 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions before 3.1.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta1:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta2:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·discourse

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-28107
  2. 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Patch 4

Advisory 1

  • 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
See all 262 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences