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TI-2023-20053 Aliases CVE-2023-38706

Discourse vulnerable to DoS via drafts

Priority LOW 30CWE-770Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-770.

Summary

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the `stable` branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the `beta` and `tests-passed` branches, a malicious user can create an unlimited number of drafts with very long draft keys which may end up exhausting the resources on the server. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the `stable` branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 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 0.0077 55th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
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 < 3.1.1; beta < 3.2.0.beta1; tests-passed < 3.2.0.beta1—No fix listedCNA
  • discourse Vendordiscourse Affected stable < 3.1.1; beta < 3.2.0.beta1; tests-passed < 3.2.0.beta1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 9

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:*before 3.1.0Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:*up to 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:3.1.0:beta3:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta3Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta5:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta5Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta6:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta6Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta7:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta7Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta8:*:*:beta:*:*:*3.1.0 beta8Vulnerablediscourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions before 3.1.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions up to 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
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta3:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta3 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta5:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta5 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta6:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta6 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta7:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta7 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.1.0:beta8:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 beta8 Vulnerable ·discourse

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38706

References

Exploit 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