CVE-2023-41043
Discourse DoS via SvgSprite cache
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Discourse DoS via SvgSprite cache
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
- Record
CVE-2023-41043- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-770
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-45575
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
- Record
EUVD-2023-45575- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
- Record
CVE-2023-41043- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-770
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Discourse DoS via SvgSprite cache
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
- Record
CVE-2023-41043- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-770
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-discourse-2023-41043No score
Discourse DoS via SvgSprite cache
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Prior to version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches, a malicious admin could create extremely large icons sprites, which would then be cached in each server process. This may cause server processes to be killed and lead to downtime. The issue is patched in version 3.1.1 of the stable branch and version 3.2.0.beta1 of the beta and tests-passed branches. This is only a concern for multisite installations. No action is required when the admins are trusted.
- Record
BIT-discourse-2023-41043- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
discourseBitnami | before 3.1.1 | 3.1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-41043 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Discourse, published September 15, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.62%, the 50th percentile. Fixed in discourse 3.1.1.