CVE-2025-54879

Summary

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.

Affected Software

VendorProductVersion RangeStatus
mastodonmastodon>= 3.1.5, < 4.2.24affected
mastodonmastodon>= 4.3.0, < 4.3.11affected
mastodonmastodon>= 4.4.0, < 4.4.3affected

Weaknesses

  • CWE-770: CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

ADP Enrichment

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

  • SSVC:
  • Exploitation: poc
    • Automatable: yes
    • Technical Impact: partial

Additional References

References