CVE-2022-46177 MEDIUM

CVE-2022-46177: Discourse password reset link can lead to in account takeover if user changes to a new email

Vendor Discourse
Product discourse
Weakness CWE-613 · Insufficient session expiration
Published January 5, 2023
Last update March 10, 2025

CVSS base score

5.7/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity High
Privileges required High
User interaction Required
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Discourse is an option source discussion platform. Prior to version 2.8.14 on the `stable` branch and version 3.0.0.beta16 on the `beta` and `tests-passed` branches, when a user requests for a password reset link email, then changes their primary email, the old reset email is still valid. When the old reset email is used to reset the password, the Discourse account's primary email would be re-linked to the old email. If the old email address is compromised or has transferred ownership, this leads to an account takeover. This is however mitigated by the SiteSetting `email_token_valid_hours` which is currently 48 hours. Users should upgrade to versions 2.8.14 or 3.0.0.beta15 to receive a patch. As a workaround, lower `email_token_valid_hours ` as needed.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

January 5, 2023 CVE published
March 10, 2025 Record updated