CVE-2023-45131: CVE-2023-45131: Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. New chat messages can be re…
discourse · discourse · NVD published 2023-10-17 · posted 2025-07-22 · last modified 2026-06-17
What it is
Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. New chat messages can be read by making an unauthenticated POST request to MessageBus. This issue is patched in the 3.1.1 stable and 3.2.0.beta2 versions of Discourse. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
| Weakness | CWE-200 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (source: [email protected]) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Collection |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2025-07-22 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
No source on this site lists in-the-wild exploitation yet (CISA KEV, VulnCheck KEV).
Public exploit code
Exploit-DB
- EDB-52375: Discourse 3.1.1 - Unauthenticated Chat Message Access (2025-07-22)
Sources: Exploit-DB (OffSec).
Defend the Chain
The attack chain for CVE-2023-45131 laid across the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise tactics. Solid cards come from the MITRE CTID KEV mappings; dashed cards are inferred by CVERadar from the CWE or description. Correct defences are real ATT&CK mitigations for that technique.
Pick a red technique card on the board, then choose the defence that stops it.
Defend against T1005 Data from Local System Inferred
Inferred from CWE CWE-200
How to fix it
Fixed versions
- discourse discourse: versions up to and including 3.1.1 are affected; check the vendor advisory for the fixed release.
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1057 Data Loss Prevention (for T1005) : Data loss prevention can restrict access to sensitive data and detect sensitive data that is unencrypted.
Detection Generic guidance
- Collection: Watch for bulk reads of databases, file shares or mailboxes by the affected service.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.