Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub Mastodon which facilitates LDAP configuration for authentication. In versions 3.1.5 through 4.2.24, 4.3.0 through 4.3.11 and 4.4.0 through 4.4.3, Mastodon's rate-limiting system has a critical configuration error where the email-based throttle for confirmation emails incorrectly checks the password reset path instead of the confirmation path, effectively disabling per-email limits for confirmation requests. This allows attackers to bypass rate limits by rotating IP addresses and send unlimited confirmation emails to any email address, as only a weak IP-based throttle (25 requests per 5 minutes) remains active. The vulnerability enables denial-of-service attacks that can overwhelm mail queues and facilitate user harassment through confirmation email spam. This is fixed in versions 4.2.24, 4.3.11 and 4.4.3.
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History
Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:45:00 +0000
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Description | Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub Mastodon which facilitates LDAP configuration for authentication. In versions 3.1.5 through 4.2.24, 4.3.0 through 4.3.11 and 4.4.0 through 4.4.3, Mastodon's rate-limiting system has a critical configuration error where the email-based throttle for confirmation emails incorrectly checks the password reset path instead of the confirmation path, effectively disabling per-email limits for confirmation requests. This allows attackers to bypass rate limits by rotating IP addresses and send unlimited confirmation emails to any email address, as only a weak IP-based throttle (25 requests per 5 minutes) remains active. The vulnerability enables denial-of-service attacks that can overwhelm mail queues and facilitate user harassment through confirmation email spam. This is fixed in versions 4.2.24, 4.3.11 and 4.4.3. | |
Title | Mastodon e‑mail throttle misconfiguration allows unlimited email confirmations against unconfirmed emails | |
Weaknesses | CWE-770 | |
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Metrics |
cvssV3_1
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: GitHub_M
Published: 2025-08-05T23:39:59.130Z
Updated: 2025-08-05T23:39:59.130Z
Reserved: 2025-07-31T17:23:33.475Z
Link: CVE-2025-54879

No data.

Status : Received
Published: 2025-08-06T00:15:31.880
Modified: 2025-08-06T00:15:31.880
Link: CVE-2025-54879

No data.