CVE-2014-6439 in Elasticsearch
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the CORS functionality in Elasticsearch before 1.4.0.Beta1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2024
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6439 resides within the Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) implementation of Elasticsearch versions prior to 1.4.0.Beta1. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the browser-based security model designed to prevent unauthorized access to resources across different origins. The vulnerability specifically affects the CORS functionality which is intended to allow web applications to make requests to different domains while maintaining security boundaries. When exploited, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, session hijacking, or complete compromise of user sessions within the Elasticsearch environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the CORS handling mechanisms of Elasticsearch, which suggests that attackers can manipulate the CORS configuration or request parameters to inject malicious JavaScript code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a server-side injection flaw where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because CORS functionality is typically used in web applications where user interaction occurs, making it particularly dangerous when combined with the ability to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass the same-origin policy that browsers enforce, potentially gaining access to sensitive data or performing unauthorized operations on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational implications of CVE-2014-6439 extend beyond simple script injection, as it fundamentally compromises the security model that Elasticsearch relies upon for protecting user sessions and sensitive data. Organizations using affected Elasticsearch versions face significant risk of data breaches, especially when the system is exposed to untrusted users or external networks. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this XSS vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including those that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Elasticsearch serves as a data repository for web applications, as it allows attackers to manipulate the data flow between applications and the search engine, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6439 primarily involve upgrading to Elasticsearch version 1.4.0.Beta1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CORS implementation flaws. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including input validation, output encoding, and proper CORS configuration management to reduce the attack surface. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and implement network segmentation to limit exposure. The remediation process should include reviewing CORS configurations to ensure that only trusted origins are permitted, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and monitoring for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future, as this type of flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web application security.