CVE-2026-53963 Discourse: Stored-XSS in 2FA delete confirmation modal
Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in admin browsers via unescaped 2FA names, potentially leading to account takeover.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-53963?
CVE-2026-53963 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Discourse Discourse, published on 9 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to 2026.6.0, 2026.5.1, 2026.4.2, and 2026.1.5, a malicious second factor name on an attacker-controlled account was not escaped in the delete confirmation dialog, allowing stored cross-site scripting when an administrator impersonated that account. This issue is fixed in versions 2026.6.0, 2026.5.1, 2026.4.2, and 2026.1.5.
Weakness: CWE-79
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53963?
1 open source package ship an affected version, including discourse. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
discourse Bitnami | From 2026.1.0 | 2026.1.5, 2026.4.2, 2026.5.1 |
Products include Discourse Discourse.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53963?
Upgrade discourse to a fixed version for your release line: 2026.1.5, 2026.4.2 or 2026.5.1.
Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.
Is CVE-2026-53963 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53963 in the wild and no public exploit code.
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-2026-53963, GHSA-wg5x-7f23-m3r5.