Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Discourse by Insecure PDF Uploads
CVE-2026-55420

7.5HIGH

Key Information:

Vendor

Discourse

Status
Vendor
CVE Published:
9 July 2026

What is CVE-2026-55420?

Discourse, a widely-used open-source discussion platform, was found to have a vulnerability that allows for remote code execution through improper handling of PDF file uploads in configurations that do not follow default settings. This exploit can compromise server integrity and security, allowing unauthorized access or control. The issue is rectified in the subsequent versions: 2026.1.5, 2026.4.2, 2026.5.1, and 2026.6.0, where users are strongly encouraged to update to these versions to ensure their systems are secure.

Affected Version(s)

discourse >= 2026.5.0-latest, < 2026.5.1 < 2026.5.0-latest, 2026.5.1

discourse >= 2026.4.0-latest, < 2026.4.2 < 2026.4.0-latest, 2026.4.2

discourse >= 2026.1.0-latest, < 2026.1.5 < 2026.1.0-latest, 2026.1.5

References

CVSS V3.1

Score:
7.5
Severity:
HIGH
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
High
Privileges Required:
Low
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

.