CVE-2021-22142 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2023
Kibana contains an embedded version of the Chromium browser that the Reporting feature uses to generate the downloadable reports. If a user with permissions to generate reports is able to render arbitrary HTML with this browser, they may be able to leverage known Chromium vulnerabilities to conduct further attacks. Kibana contains a number of protections to prevent this browser from rendering arbitrary content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-22142 resides within the Kibana platform's reporting functionality, which leverages an embedded Chromium browser component to generate downloadable reports. This embedded browser represents a significant attack surface since it provides a mechanism for executing arbitrary HTML content that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. The reporting feature's reliance on Chromium creates a vector where untrusted input could be processed through the browser engine, potentially allowing attackers to execute code or escalate privileges.
The technical flaw stems from the insufficient sanitization of HTML content within Kibana's reporting module, where user-controlled data can influence the browser rendering process. This vulnerability manifests when users with appropriate permissions to generate reports can manipulate the content that gets rendered within the embedded Chromium instance. The embedded browser, while designed with protective measures, contains gaps that allow for potential exploitation of known Chromium vulnerabilities, creating opportunities for attackers to leverage these underlying browser flaws for further compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code within the Kibana environment. The embedded Chromium browser's capabilities mean that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. Organizations using Kibana for security monitoring and log analysis face significant risk since attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or disrupt critical security operations.
Security protections within Kibana include various content filtering mechanisms and sandboxing techniques designed to prevent arbitrary HTML rendering. However, these protections proved insufficient in this case, allowing attackers to bypass security controls and leverage the embedded browser's capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses issues related to improper input sanitization in web applications. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it involves the execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code through the embedded browser environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing stricter input validation and sanitization for all user-controlled content within the reporting module. Organizations should consider disabling the reporting feature entirely if it is not essential for operations, or implement additional layers of protection such as network segmentation and monitoring of report generation activities. Regular updates to Kibana and the embedded Chromium components remain critical, as vendors typically address such vulnerabilities in subsequent releases. Security teams should also monitor for unusual report generation patterns and implement comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of securing embedded browser components and demonstrates how seemingly benign features can create significant security risks when not properly isolated from user input.