CVE-2024-53991 Potential Backup file leaked via Nginx in Discourse
Attackers can leak local backup files via Nginx if local storage is enabled, exposing sensitive data; upgrade Discourse or move backups to S3.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2024-53991?
CVE-2024-53991 is a high-severity vulnerability in Discourse Discourse, published on 19 Dec 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Discourse is an open source platform for community discussion. This vulnerability only impacts Discourse instances configured to use `FileStore::LocalStore` which means uploads and backups are stored locally on disk. If an attacker knows the name of the Discourse backup file, the attacker can trick nginx into sending the Discourse backup file with a well crafted request. This issue is patched in the latest stable, beta and tests-passed versions of Discourse. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade can either 1. Download all local backups on to another storage device, disable the `enable_backups` site setting and delete all backups until the site has been upgraded to pull in the fix. Or 2. Change the `backup_location` site setting to `s3` so that backups are stored and downloaded directly from S3.
Weakness: CWE-200
Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-53991?
1 open source package ship an affected version, including discourse. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
discourse Bitnami | All versions | 3.3.3 |
Products include Discourse Discourse.
How do I fix CVE-2024-53991?
Upgrade discourse to 3.3.3 or later.
Is CVE-2024-53991 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-53991 exists.
Public exploit code: 1 Nuclei template.
Other vulnerabilities in Discourse Discourse
- CVE-2021-41163 RCE via malicious SNS subscription payload
- CVE-2022-36066 Discourse vulnerable to RCE via admins uploading maliciously zipped file
- CVE-2022-39356 Discourse user account takeover via email and invite link
- CVE-2023-22468 Discourse vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting in local oneboxes
- CVE-2026-27934 Discourse leaks private topic title and post excerpt via user action API endpoint
Sources
Also known as BIT-discourse-2024-53991, GHSA-567m-82f6-56rv.