CVE-2023-43814 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Attackers with specific details to a poll in a topic can exploit the

/polls/grouped_poll_results

endpoint to access poll options and votes, impacting private polls. This vulnerability, assigned CVE-2023-43814 and discovered through advisory GHSA-3x57-846g-7qcw, affects Discourse versions up to 3.2.0.beta2.

Understanding CVE-2023-43814

This section provides insight into the exposure of poll options and votes to unauthorized users in Discourse.

What is CVE-2023-43814?

CVE-2023-43814 highlights a vulnerability in Discourse that allows unauthorized users to access sensitive information, specifically poll options and votes, through a specific endpoint.

The Impact of CVE-2023-43814

The vulnerability enables attackers to view the content of poll options and the number of votes, compromising the integrity of private polls intended for authorized users only.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-43814

Explore the technical aspects of this security issue in Discourse.

Vulnerability Description

Attackers can exploit the

/polls/grouped_poll_results

endpoint to read the content of poll options and the votes, breaking the confidentiality of private polls.

Affected Systems and Versions

Discourse versions up to 3.2.0.beta2 are affected by this vulnerability, including stable versions up to 3.1.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs due to improper access control, allowing unauthorized users to access sensitive poll information through the specified endpoint.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address and prevent the impact of CVE-2023-43814 in Discourse.

Immediate Steps to Take

Affected users should upgrade to the patched versions, namely 3.1.1 stable and 3.2.0.beta2 for Discourse, to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to poll options and votes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong access controls and regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by Discourse to ensure the ongoing protection of polling features and prevent unauthorized access to poll results.