CVE-2018-3830 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE
Kibana versions 5.3.0 to 6.4.1 had a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via the source field formatter 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 • 05/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3830 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Kibana versions ranging from 5.3.0 through 6.4.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the source field formatter component within the Kibana interface, which serves as a crucial element for displaying and manipulating data within the Elastic Stack ecosystem. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's user interface, potentially compromising the security of all users interacting with the vulnerable system. The source field formatter is designed to present raw data in a structured manner, making it a prime target for exploitation as it processes user input that may contain malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the source field formatter functionality. When users interact with Kibana's interface and provide input that gets processed through this formatter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when rendered by the browser, execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3830 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of destructive actions on behalf of compromised users. Security implications include potential session hijacking, where attackers can steal session cookies and impersonate legitimate users to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized operations within Kibana. The vulnerability also allows for data exfiltration, where attackers can extract confidential information from the system or manipulate data within the application. Additionally, the threat landscape includes the possibility of privilege escalation attacks, where malicious actors could leverage the XSS vulnerability to gain elevated access rights within the Kibana environment. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing with malicious attachments, as the vulnerability can be exploited through crafted user interactions.
Organizations utilizing vulnerable Kibana versions face significant security risks that can lead to complete compromise of their monitoring and analytics infrastructure. The vulnerability affects any user who interacts with the source field formatter functionality, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users have access to the system. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including email links, file uploads, or direct user input manipulation. Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Kibana installations to version 6.4.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation controls, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments of their Elastic Stack deployments. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious user activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring across all components of the Elastic Stack ecosystem, as the source field formatter represents a critical interface point that requires robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access and data compromise.