CVE-2023-48297 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Discourse vulnerable to unlimited mentioned users in message serializer

Understanding CVE-2023-48297

Discourse, a platform for community discussion, has a vulnerability where the message serializer allows unlimited mentioned users, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption.

What is CVE-2023-48297?

Discourse is a platform for community discussion. The message serializer uses the full list of expanded chat mentions (@all and @here) which can lead to a very long array of users. This issue was patched in versions 3.1.4 and beta 3.2.0.beta5.

The Impact of CVE-2023-48297

The vulnerability allows attackers to cause uncontrolled resource consumption, potentially affecting the availability of the system. This can lead to denial of service attacks and impact system performance.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-48297

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Discourse allows unlimited mentioned users in the message serializer, leading to a very long array of users and uncontrolled resource consumption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Discourse
Affected Product: Discourse
Affected Versions: < 3.1.4, >= 3.2.0beta1, < 3.2.0.beta4

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises from the message serializer in Discourse, where expanded chat mentions can be abused to cause uncontrolled resource consumption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2023-48297, users are advised to update Discourse to versions 3.1.4 or beta 3.2.0.beta5. Ensure timely patching to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper input validation mechanisms and regularly update software to stay protected from potential security threats. Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by Discourse. Regularly apply updates and security fixes to keep the system secure.