Discourse may bypass user preference when adding users to chat groups

published 2025-03-26 19 mo ago modified 2026-09-08 2 mo ago also BIT-discourse-2025-24972 , EUVD-2025-8202 , GHSA-4p63-qw6g-4mv2

cvss: 4.3; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.4%; EPSS 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 32%
public exploits: 0; none known

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to versions `3.3.4` on the `stable` branch and `3.4.0.beta5` on the `beta` branch, in specific circumstances, users could be added to group direct messages despite disabling direct messaging in their preferences. Versions `3.3.4` and `3.4.0.beta5` contain a patch for the issue. A workaround is available. If a user disables chat in their preferences then they cannot be added to new group chats.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

bitnami discourse 3.4.0
discourse discourse 3.3.4, 3.4.0.beta5

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: partial
Assessed: 19 mo ago (2025-03-26)

Exploit prediction

0.38% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 32% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CNA	3.1	4.3	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
OSV	3.1	4.3	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
bitnami	discourse	<3.4.0	3.4.0

Affected products

discourse discourse

Classification

Weakness

CWE-862 Missing Authorization

References

github.com /discourse/discourse/security/advisories/GHSA-4p63-qw6g-4mv2
vendor-advisory, advisory
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24972
web

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

CPEs and fixed versions use Anchore's correction of NVD's data: Added CPE configurations because not yet analyzed by NVD.

Summary