CVE-2019-7610 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE
Kibana versions before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1 contain an arbitrary code execution flaw in the security audit logger. If a Kibana instance has the setting xpack.security.audit.enabled set to true, an attacker could send a request that will attempt to execute javascript code. This could possibly lead to an attacker executing arbitrary commands with permissions of the Kibana process on the host system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7610 represents a critical arbitrary code execution flaw within the Kibana security audit logging functionality. This issue affects Kibana versions prior to 5.6.15 and 6.6.1, specifically when the xpack.security.audit.enabled configuration parameter is set to true. The flaw resides in how Kibana processes audit log entries, creating a dangerous condition where malicious input can be interpreted and executed as JavaScript code. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the audit logging module, which processes user-supplied data without proper security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the audit logging mechanism by crafting specially formatted requests that contain malicious JavaScript code. When Kibana processes these requests with audit logging enabled, the system attempts to execute the embedded code within the context of the Kibana process. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where the attacker's code runs with the same permissions as the Kibana service account, potentially granting access to underlying system resources. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be triggered through HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing Kibana instances. According to CWE-94, this vulnerability maps to the CWE-94 category of "Improper Control of Generation of Code," specifically manifesting as "Code Injection" where untrusted data is executed as code.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7610 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when an attacker successfully exploits the vulnerability. The audit logging feature is typically enabled in production environments for security monitoring purposes, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate system functionality to deliver malicious payloads. An attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the Kibana environment. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader Elasticsearch cluster, as Kibana serves as a critical interface for cluster management and monitoring. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript," where adversaries leverage JavaScript execution capabilities to gain system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7610 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Kibana 5.6.15 or 6.6.1, which contain the necessary patches to address the code execution flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Kibana instances and restrict direct internet exposure where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in audit log processing, and access controls should be strictly enforced through proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the xpack.security.audit.enabled setting if audit logging is not actively required, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in security architecture, where even legitimate system features can become attack vectors when not properly secured.