CVE-2023-38498 : Security Advisory and Response
Discourse is prone to a DoS vulnerability, allowing attackers to disrupt the defer queue, affecting multisite installations. Learn about the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
Discourse open-source discussion platform is vulnerable to a DoS attack via the defer queue.
Understanding CVE-2023-38498
This CVE details a vulnerability in Discourse that allows a malicious user to disrupt the defer queue, affecting multisite installations using specific versions of the platform.
What is CVE-2023-38498?
The vulnerability, identified as CWE-400 and CWE-770, enables uncontrolled resource consumption and allocation without limits or throttling in Discourse versions prior to 3.0.6 and 3.1.0.beta7.
The Impact of CVE-2023-38498
The exploit can lead to denial of service (DoS) attacks, impacting the timely processing of the defer queue in multisite setups, potentially affecting user experience and site availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-38498
The vulnerability affects Discourse versions before 3.0.6 in the 'stable' branch and before 3.1.0.beta7 in the 'beta' and 'tests-passed' branches.
Vulnerability Description
A malicious actor can disrupt the defer queue, leading to resource exhaustion in multisite installations, causing a DoS condition.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: Discourse
- Product: Discourse
- Vulnerable Versions: >= 3.1.0.beta1, < 3.1.0.beta7 and < 3.0.6
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability allows attackers to exhaust resources by preventing the defer queue from progressing, impacting the operational efficiency of Discourse platforms.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial for Discourse users to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-38498.
Immediate Steps to Take
All users of affected Discourse versions should update to 3.0.6 for the 'stable' branch and 3.1.0.beta7 for the 'beta' and 'tests-passed' branches to apply the necessary patches.
Long-Term Security Practices
Maintain a regular patching schedule and stay informed about security updates to prevent future vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for software updates and security advisories from Discourse to ensure a secure environment for your discussion platform.