CVE-2026-26973 Details
Description
Discourse is an open source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 have an IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) in `ReviewableNotesController`. When `enable_category_group_moderation` is enabled, a user belonging to a category moderation group can create or delete their own notes on **any** reviewable in the system, including reviewables in categories they do not moderate. The controller used an unscoped `Reviewable.find` and the `ensure_can_see` guard only checked whether the user could access the review queue in general, not whether they could access the specific reviewable. Only instances with `enable_category_group_moderation` enabled are affected. Staff users (admins/moderators) are not impacted as they already have access to all reviewables. The issue is patched in versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0 by scoping the reviewable lookup through `Reviewable.viewable_by(current_user)`. As a workaround, disable the `enable_category_group_moderation` site setting. This removes the attack surface as only staff users will have access to the review queue.
A vulnerability allowing Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) has been identified in Discourse versions prior to 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, and 2026.2.0. The issue arises in the ReviewableNotesController when the 'enable_category_group_moderation' setting is active. Under these conditions, users in a category moderation group can create or delete notes on any reviewable, regardless of category moderation rights. This vulnerability exists because the reviewable lookup was unscoped, allowing unauthorized access to reviewables outside the user's moderation group.
Users can upgrade to Discourse versions 2025.12.2, 2026.1.1, or 2026.2.0 to address this vulnerability. Alternatively, the 'enable_category_group_moderation' site setting can be disabled, which will restrict access to the review queue to staff users only.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
CISA-ADP
Assessed Feb 26, 2026References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
By selecting these links, you will be leaving this site. These are references gathered from the official CVE record and are not endorsed by Volerion.
| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://github.com/discourse/discourse/security/advisories/GHSA-c587-qx78-vhmx | [email protected] | Vendor Advisory |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-639 | Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key | [email protected] |
| CWE-863 | Incorrect Authorization | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| discourse discourse | < 2025.12.0 >= 2026.1.0, < 2026.1.1 2026.2.0 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | [email protected] |
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Mar 2, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Feb 26, 2026 | New CVE Received | [email protected] |