Disclosure of the existence of secret categories with custom backgrounds in Discourse
Priority LOW 33CWE-200Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-200.
Summary
Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. In affected versions an attacker can learn that secret categories exist when they have backgrounds set. The issue is patched in the latest stable, beta and tests-passed version of Discourse. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should temporarily remove category backgrounds.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00493 42nd 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discourse | discourse | stable <= 3.2.0; beta <= 3.3.0.beta1; tests-passed <= 3.3.0.beta1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- discourse Vendordiscourse Affected stable <= 3.2.0; beta <= 3.3.0.beta1; tests-passed <= 3.3.0.beta1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* | before 3.2.0 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:* | before 3.3.0 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.3.0:-:*:*:beta:*:*:* | 3.3.0 | Vulnerable | discourse |
| cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.3.0:beta1:*:*:beta:*:*:* | 3.3.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | discourse |
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions before 3.2.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions before 3.3.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.3.0:-:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
- cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.3.0:beta1:*:*:beta:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·discourse
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-28242
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