Discourse XSS via AI LLM Prompt Injection (v<2026.3.0, 2026.2.1, 2026.1.2)
CVE-2026-27740 Published on March 19, 2026
Discourse has Stored XSS in AI Triage Automation
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. Versions prior to 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 have a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises because the system trusts the raw output from an AI Large Language Model (LLM) and renders it using htmlSafe in the Review Queue interface without adequate sanitization. A malicious attacker can use valid Prompt Injection techniques to force the AI to return a malicious payload (e.g., tags). When a Staff member (Admin/Moderator) views the flagged post in the Review Queue, the payload executes. Versions 2026.3.0-latest.1, 2026.2.1, and 2026.1.2 contain a patch. As a workaround, temporarily disable AI triage automation scripts.
Weakness Type
What is a XSS Vulnerability?
The software does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.
CVE-2026-27740 has been classified to as a XSS vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-27740
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Affected Versions
discourse:- Version >= 2026.1.0-latest, < 2026.1.2 is affected.
- Version >= 2026.2.0-latest, < 2026.2.1 is affected.
- Version = 2026.3.0-latest is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.