Private-message disclosure via nil-email invite join
Published Nov 14, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Incorrect authorization in Discourse 2.8.10 and earlier or 2.9.0.beta11 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read private messages. InviteRedeemer can pass a nil email into an ActiveRecord query whose incorrect inner join matches unrelated private-topic invitations and writes TopicAllowedUser records. Redeeming an invitation is required; affected users are silently enrolled in several private-message topics, exposing their contents.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect authorization in Discourse 2.8.10 and earlier or 2.9.0.beta11 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read private messages. InviteRedeemer can pass a nil email into an ActiveRecord query whose incorrect inner join matches unrelated private-topic invitations and writes TopicAllowedUser records. Redeeming an invitation is required; affected users are silently enrolled in several private-message topics, exposing their contents.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-39385
- Published
- Nov 14, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Discourse
- Product
- Discourse
- Classifications
- CWE-200, CWE-863, T1098
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=Beta: <= 2.9.0.beta11
- Affected versionversion=Stable: <= 2.8.10
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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