CVE-2017-11481 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE
Kibana versions prior to 6.0.1 and 5.6.5 had a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via URL fields that could allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information from or perform destructive actions on behalf of other Kibana users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11481 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Kibana software versions prior to 6.0.1 and 5.6.5. This vulnerability resides in how the application processes URL fields, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the browser of unsuspecting users. The flaw specifically targets the handling of user-supplied URL parameters within the Kibana interface, which serves as a web-based analytics and visualization platform integrated with the Elastic Stack ecosystem. The vulnerability manifests when Kibana fails to properly sanitize or escape URL input before rendering it in the user interface, creating an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where software does not properly neutralize user-controllable input data or output data. This particular instance demonstrates how insecure input handling in web applications can lead to severe security implications, as the vulnerability allows for session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when visited by authenticated Kibana users, execute in their browser context. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the malicious scripts can access the user's session cookies, manipulate the application interface, and potentially perform destructive actions such as modifying or deleting data within Kibana's interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Kibana for security monitoring and log analysis, as these platforms often contain sensitive operational data and may be accessed by users with elevated privileges. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between users and the application, requiring minimal social engineering to exploit. Users may inadvertently click on malicious links shared through email, chat systems, or other communication channels, leading to unauthorized access to their Kibana sessions. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics, as it exploits the human element in security by leveraging user trust in legitimate application interfaces. Organizations using older Kibana versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive logs, and possible compromise of the entire Elastic Stack infrastructure.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of patches to Kibana versions 6.0.1 and 5.6.5, which contain the necessary fixes to properly sanitize URL input fields. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads in URL parameters. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of all Kibana installations and ensure that automatic update mechanisms are properly configured to maintain current security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security frameworks, emphasizing that all user-controllable data must be treated as potentially malicious and properly sanitized before processing or display within web applications.