Discourse is an open source discussion platform. In versions prior to 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0, non-admin moderators with the `moderators_change_post_ownership` setting enabled can change ownership of posts in private messages and restricted categories they cannot access, then export their data to view the content. This is a broken access control vulnerability affecting sites that grant moderators post ownership transfer permissions. This issue is patched in versions 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0. The patch adds visibility checks for both the topic and posts before allowing ownership transfer. As a workaround, disable the `moderators_change_post_ownership` site setting to prevent non-admin moderators from using the post ownership transfer feature.
History

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Discourse
Discourse discourse
Vendors & Products Discourse
Discourse discourse

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Discourse is an open source discussion platform. In versions prior to 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0, non-admin moderators with the `moderators_change_post_ownership` setting enabled can change ownership of posts in private messages and restricted categories they cannot access, then export their data to view the content. This is a broken access control vulnerability affecting sites that grant moderators post ownership transfer permissions. This issue is patched in versions 3.5.4, 2025.11.2, 2025.12.1, and 2026.1.0. The patch adds visibility checks for both the topic and posts before allowing ownership transfer. As a workaround, disable the `moderators_change_post_ownership` site setting to prevent non-admin moderators from using the post ownership transfer feature.
Title Discourse non-admin moderators can exfiltrate private content via post ownership transfer
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2026-01-28T19:17:23.713Z

Updated: 2026-01-28T20:16:21.375Z

Reserved: 2025-12-24T23:59:23.392Z

Link: CVE-2025-68933

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-28T20:15:55.456Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-01-28T20:16:12.477

Modified: 2026-01-29T16:31:00.867

Link: CVE-2025-68933

cve-icon Redhat

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