CVE-2023-44388 : Security Advisory and Response

Discourse is an open-source platform for community discussion that is affected by a vulnerability where malicious requests can fill up the log files, leading to a denial of service due to uncontrolled resource consumption.

Understanding CVE-2023-44388

This CVE affects Discourse versions up to 3.1.1 in the stable branch and up to 3.2.0.beta2 in the beta branch.

What is CVE-2023-44388?

CVE-2023-44388 involves a vulnerability in Discourse that allows malicious requests to overwhelm the server by filling up log files, resulting in a denial of service due to uncontrolled resource consumption.

The Impact of CVE-2023-44388

The impact of this vulnerability is high, with a CVSSv3 base score of 7.5. Attackers can exploit this issue to exhaust server disk space, causing disruptions and service unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-44388

Discourse versions 3.1.1 and 3.2.0.beta2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A malicious request can rapidly fill up log files in Discourse, leading to disk space exhaustion and a denial of service condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: discourse
Product: discourse
Affected Versions: stable <= 3.1.1, beta <= 3.2.0.beta2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests that cause the log files to grow excessively, consuming all available disk space.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-44388, immediate action and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to the patched versions: 3.1.1 stable or 3.2.0.beta2 beta.
Implement a temporary workaround by adjusting the

client_max_body_size

Nginx directive to limit upload sizes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Discourse to the latest versions to ensure patches against known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Discourse and promptly apply patches and updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.