CVE-2023-22453 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves Discourse being vulnerable to the exposure of user post counts per topic to unauthorized users.

Understanding CVE-2023-22453

Discourse, a popular open-source discussion platform, has a vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to view the number of times a user has posted in a specific topic. This can lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

What is CVE-2023-22453?

The vulnerability in Discourse, up to version 2.8.14 on the stable branch and version 3.0.0.beta16 on the beta and tests-passed branches, allows unauthorized users to access user post counts per topic through the

/u/username.json

endpoint.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22453

This vulnerability can lead to the exposure of sensitive user activity information, potentially compromising user privacy and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22453

Discourse versions prior to 2.8.14 (stable branch) and 3.0.0.beta16 (beta and tests-passed branches) are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows unauthorized users to access the number of times a user has posted in a specific topic through an endpoint, potentially revealing sensitive user activity.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Discourse
Product: Discourse
Affected Versions:
Version < 2.8.14
Version >= 2.9.0.beta0, < 3.0.0.beta16

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit the vulnerability by accessing the

/u/username.json

endpoint in affected versions of Discourse, thus accessing user post counts per topic.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and mitigate the CVE-2023-22453 vulnerability to protect user data and privacy.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users and administrators should upgrade Discourse to the patched versions, specifically version 2.8.14 for the stable branch and version 3.0.0.beta16 for the beta and tests-passed branches. Ensure that sensitive user activity data is no longer exposed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing proper access control mechanisms and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Educating users about the importance of privacy and safe online practices is also essential.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating Discourse to the latest versions and promptly applying security patches can help protect against known vulnerabilities and ensure a secure platform for user discussions.