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TI-2025-42389 Aliases CVE-2025-68933

Discourse non-admin moderators can exfiltrate private content via post ownership transfer

Priority LOW 30CWE-863Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
High
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · High · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.

Summary

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. In versions prior to 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0, non-admin moderators with the `moderators_change_post_ownership` setting enabled can change ownership of posts in private messages and restricted categories they cannot access, then export their data to view the content. This is a broken access control vulnerability affecting sites that grant moderators post ownership transfer permissions. This issue is patched in versions 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0. The patch adds visibility checks for both the topic and posts before allowing ownership transfer. As a workaround, disable the `moderators_change_post_ownership` site setting to prevent non-admin moderators from using the post ownership transfer feature.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00164 5th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed discourse (discourse): 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1 +1

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
discoursediscoursebefore 3.5.4; 2025.11.0-latest to before 2025.11.2; 2025.12.0-latest to before 2025.12.1; 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.03.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, 2026.1.0Patch availableCNA
  • discourse Vendordiscourse Affected before 3.5.4; 2025.11.0-latest to before 2025.11.2; 2025.12.0-latest to before 2025.12.1; 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.0 Fixed in 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, 2026.1.0 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:*before 3.5.4; 2025.11.0 to before 2025.11.2Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2025.12.0:*:*:*:stable:*:*:*2025.12.0Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2026.1.0:*:*:*:stable:*:*:*2026.1.0Vulnerablediscourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions before 3.5.4; 2025.11.0 to before 2025.11.2 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2025.12.0:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions 2025.12.0 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2026.1.0:*:*:*:stable:*:*:* Versions 2026.1.0 Vulnerable ·discourse

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA discourse (discourse) Fixed in 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, 2026.1.0

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-68933

References

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