CVE-2022-39356 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Discourse is a platform for community discussion where users who receive an invitation link not scoped to a single email address can enter any non-admin user's email and gain access to their account. It is recommended that all users upgrade to the latest version. A workaround is to temporarily disable invitations or scope them to individual email addresses.

Understanding CVE-2022-39356

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Discourse that allows unauthorized access to user accounts through improperly scoped invitation links.

What is CVE-2022-39356?

CVE-2022-39356 allows attackers to exploit invitation links in Discourse to gain access to non-admin user accounts.

The Impact of CVE-2022-39356

The vulnerability leads to unauthorized access and potential account takeover, posing a significant risk to user data and privacy.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-39356

The technical details of CVE-2022-39356 include:

Vulnerability Description

Users can exploit improperly scoped invitation links to access non-admin accounts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Discourse
Product: Discourse
Affected Versions: <= 2.8.9, <= 2.9.0.beta10

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can manipulate invitation links to gain access to user accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2022-39356 involves the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

All users should upgrade to the latest version of Discourse to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, consider temporarily disabling invitations or scoping them to individual email addresses.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating Discourse to the latest versions and implementing security best practices are crucial for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches from Discourse to quickly address any vulnerabilities.