CVE-2025-25014 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2025
A Prototype pollution vulnerability in Kibana leads to arbitrary code execution via crafted HTTP requests to machine learning and reporting endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2025
This vulnerability resides in the Kibana platform and represents a critical prototype pollution flaw that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted HTTP requests targeting machine learning and reporting endpoints. The issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization within Kibana's internal object handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate prototype properties that are subsequently used in processing operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the machine learning and reporting functionalities where user-supplied data is processed without adequate protection against prototype manipulation attacks.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker sends malicious HTTP requests containing crafted payload data that modifies the prototype properties of JavaScript objects used internally by Kibana. This prototype pollution occurs during the deserialization of user-provided data within the machine learning and reporting endpoints, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming parameters before incorporating them into object structures. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious code into the prototype chain, which then gets executed when the application processes subsequent requests or performs operations on the polluted objects.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with full arbitrary code execution capabilities on the affected Kibana server. Once exploited, attackers can execute commands with the privileges of the Kibana process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The machine learning and reporting endpoints are particularly vulnerable because these functionalities often involve complex data processing operations that create opportunities for prototype pollution to be leveraged for code execution. The attack surface extends beyond immediate exploitation as compromised Kibana instances can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Kibana that address the prototype pollution vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to Kibana endpoints, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-471, which specifically addresses the issue of "Modification of Object Prototype Attributes" and represents a classic example of prototype pollution attacks that have been documented in various security frameworks including the OWASP Top Ten. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and command execution, with potential lateral movement capabilities once the initial compromise is achieved. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual patterns in machine learning and reporting endpoint usage, as these are the primary attack vectors for exploitation.