CVE-2022-23712 in Elasticsearch
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2022
A Denial of Service flaw was discovered in Elasticsearch. Using this vulnerability, an unauthenticated attacker could forcibly shut down an Elasticsearch node with a specifically formatted network request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical denial of service weakness in the Elasticsearch distributed search and analytics engine that affects versions prior to 7.17.9 and 8.1.0. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the network request handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted network packets that trigger an abrupt termination of Elasticsearch node processes. The vulnerability specifically impacts the HTTP transport layer where incoming requests are processed without sufficient sanitization of request parameters that could lead to unauthorized node shutdowns. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, this corresponds to weakness type CWE-400 which encompasses unspecified denial of service conditions that can be exploited through improper handling of input data. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and represents a significant threat to Elasticsearch deployments that are exposed to untrusted networks or lack proper access controls.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2022-23712 requires an attacker to send a specifically crafted network request that leverages the node shutdown mechanism within Elasticsearch's transport layer. This occurs when the system fails to properly validate the integrity of incoming requests, allowing malformed parameters to trigger internal node termination routines. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication credentials, making it accessible to any external party that can reach the Elasticsearch service. The attack vector operates through the HTTP transport interface, where the vulnerable code path processes incoming requests without adequate parameter validation, leading to an unexpected node shutdown. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input validation that allows attackers to manipulate internal system state through external network communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire distributed Elasticsearch clusters. When an individual node shuts down due to this attack, it can trigger cascading failures in the cluster, especially in configurations where node redundancy is insufficient or where the cluster is not properly configured to handle node failures gracefully. Organizations running Elasticsearch in production environments face significant risk of service interruptions that could affect critical data search and analytics capabilities. The vulnerability particularly impacts deployments where Elasticsearch instances are exposed directly to the internet or where network segmentation controls are inadequate. In enterprise environments, this could lead to data unavailability for business-critical applications that depend on Elasticsearch for search functionality, analytics, or log aggregation services. The attack can be executed rapidly and with minimal resources, making it an attractive vector for disruptive attacks against Elasticsearch infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches that address this vulnerability in Elasticsearch versions 7.17.9 and 8.1.0, which include enhanced input validation and proper request parameter sanitization. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to restrict direct access to Elasticsearch services from untrusted networks, requiring all access to go through properly configured firewalls and access control lists. The implementation of authentication mechanisms including API keys and user authentication should be enforced to prevent unauthorized access to the Elasticsearch transport layer. Monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual patterns in network traffic or node shutdown events that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement proper cluster configuration practices that include adequate node redundancy and automatic failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of potential node shutdowns. According to security best practices, this vulnerability should be prioritized for immediate remediation as it represents a high-severity threat that can be exploited without authentication credentials and can cause significant service disruption. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation vulnerabilities across the organization's Elasticsearch deployments and related systems.