CVE-2022-46150 : What You Need to Know

Discourse may allow exposure of hidden tags in the subject of notification emails.

Understanding CVE-2022-46150

Discourse, an open-source discussion platform, before version 2.8.13 of the

stable

branch and version 2.9.0.beta14 of the

beta

and

tests-passed

branches, could potentially expose hidden tags to unauthorized users through notification emails.

What is CVE-2022-46150?

CVE-2022-46150 highlights a vulnerability in Discourse that allows unauthorized users to discover hidden tags in notification emails linked to topics they have access to, prior to specific versions being patched.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46150

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 4.3, allowing unauthorized users to gain insights into the presence of hidden tags on topics.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46150

This section outlines the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to view hidden tags applied to topics they have access to via notification emails.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Discourse versions prior to 2.8.13 in the

stable

branch and versions prior to 2.9.0.beta14 in the

beta

and

tests-passed

branches.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users could exploit this vulnerability by examining the subject of notification emails to obtain information about hidden tags.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2022-46150 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk, update Discourse to version 2.8.13 for the

stable

branch or version 2.9.0.beta14 for the

beta

and

tests-passed

branches. Alternatively, use the

disable_email

site setting to prevent non-staff users from receiving emails.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement email privacy policies and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Educate users on the importance of email security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by Discourse to ensure the continued security of your platform.