Read the docs
TI-2026-21082 Aliases CVE-2026-26078

Discourse has authentication bypass vulnerability in the Patreon plugin webhook endpoint

Priority LOW 38CWE-639Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-639.

Summary

Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Prior to versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0, when the `patreon_webhook_secret` site setting is blank, an attacker can forge valid webhook signatures by computing an HMAC-MD5 with an empty string as the key. Since the request body is known to the sender, the attacker can produce a matching signature and send arbitrary webhook payloads. This allows unauthorized creation, modification, or deletion of Patreon pledge data and triggering patron-to-group synchronization. This vulnerability is patched in versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0. The fix rejects webhook requests when the webhook secret is not configured, preventing signature forgery with an empty key. As a workaround, configure the `patreon_webhook_secret` site setting with a strong, non-empty secret value. When the secret is non-empty, an attacker cannot forge valid signatures without knowing the secret.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00255 17th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed discourse (discourse): 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, 2026.2.0

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
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 2025.12.2; 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.1; 2026.2.0-latest to before 2026.2.02025.12.2, 2026.1.1, 2026.2.0Patch availableCNA
  • discourse Vendordiscourse Affected before 2025.12.2; 2026.1.0-latest to before 2026.1.1; 2026.2.0-latest to before 2026.2.0 Fixed in 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, 2026.2.0 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2025.12.0; 2026.1.0 to before 2026.1.1Vulnerablediscourse
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2026.2.0:*:*:*:latest:*:*:*2026.2.0Vulnerablediscourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2025.12.0; 2026.1.0 to before 2026.1.1 Vulnerable ·discourse
  • cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:2026.2.0:*:*:*:latest:*:*:* Versions 2026.2.0 Vulnerable ·discourse

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA discourse (discourse) Fixed in 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, 2026.2.0

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-26078

References

  • 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