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Discourse CVE-2025-22601

LOW
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2025-02-04 security-advisories@github.com
3.1
CVSS 3.1 · GitHub Advisory
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 3.1 (LOW). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.33%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Monitor Track and reassess. Why: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9).
No patch listed yet 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. In affected versions an attacker can trick a target user to make changes to their own username via carefully crafted link using the activate-account route. This problem has been patched in the latest version of Discourse. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. Affected products include: Discourse.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 3.1 LOW
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. In affected versions an attacker can trick a target user to make changes to their own username via carefully crafted link using the activate-account route. This problem has been patched in the latest version of Discourse. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2025-22601 is a low-severity vulnerability in affected involving path traversal (CVSS 3.1). The limited severity suggests constrained impact, typically requiring specific conditions or local access for exploitation. Apply vendor updates when available as part of routine maintenance.

Business Impact: Low
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch during routine maintenance. Standard path traversal mitigations apply if patching is delayed.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 44% exploitable
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity LOW
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Low

Priority Score

16
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +16
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:*:*:*:*:beta:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.4.0:beta1:*:*:beta:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.4.0:beta2:*:*:beta:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:discourse:discourse:3.4.0:beta3:*:*:beta:*:*:*
CVE-2025-48954 HIGH POC
8.1 Jun 25

Discourse versions prior to 3.5.0.beta6 contain a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in social login fun

CVE-2022-46162 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 30

discourse-bbcode is the official BBCode plugin for Discourse. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is

CVE-2026-27934 HIGH POC
8.7 Mar 19

Unauthorized information disclosure in Discourse discussion platform versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and

CVE-2024-47773 HIGH POC
8.2 Oct 08

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is rem

CVE-2026-26265 HIGH POC
7.5 Feb 26

Discourse versions prior to 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 contain an insecure direct object reference (IDOR) in the

CVE-2021-3138 HIGH POC
7.5 Jan 14

In Discourse 2.7.0 through beta1, a rate-limit bypass leads to a bypass of the 2FA requirement for certain forms. Rated

CVE-2026-26077 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Feb 26

Unauthenticated attackers can submit forged webhook payloads to multiple email provider integrations in Discourse versio

CVE-2023-38706 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Sep 15

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploi

CVE-2024-53991 MEDIUM POC
5.9 Dec 19

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is r

CVE-2025-48877 CRITICAL
9.8 Jun 09

Discourse versions prior to 3.4.4 (stable), 3.5.0.beta5 (beta), and 3.5.0.beta6-dev (tests-passed) contain a critical vu

CVE-2023-47121 CRITICAL
9.8 Nov 10

Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is

CVE-2022-39355 CRITICAL
9.8 Oct 26

Discourse Patreon enables syncronization between Discourse Groups and Patreon rewards. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8

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