CVE-2025-68386 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE • 12/19/2025
Improper Authorization (CWE-285) in Kibana can lead to privilege escalation (CAPEC-233) by allowing an authenticated user to change a document's sharing type to "global," even though they do not have permission to do so, making it visible to everyone in the space via a crafted a HTTP request.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-68386 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Kibana platform that directly maps to CWE-285, which defines improper authorization conditions in software systems. This weakness allows authenticated users to exploit a privilege escalation vector by manipulating document sharing permissions through crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects Kibana's document management capabilities where users can manipulate the sharing type of documents to "global" status, bypassing the intended access control mechanisms that should restrict such actions to authorized administrators only. The flaw exists in the backend validation logic that fails to properly verify user permissions before executing document sharing modifications, creating a significant security gap in the platform's access control model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass a broader privilege escalation scenario classified under CAPEC-233, which describes how attackers can leverage existing authenticated sessions to gain elevated privileges within the system. When an authenticated user successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can make documents visible to all users within the same space, effectively bypassing the intended scope-based access controls that should limit document visibility to specific user groups or individuals. This creates a persistent security risk where sensitive data can be exposed to unauthorized personnel, potentially leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and compliance violations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Kibana serves as a central dashboard for monitoring and analyzing sensitive operational data.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2025-68386 requires an authenticated session within the Kibana environment, followed by crafting a specific HTTP request that targets the document sharing endpoint. Attackers can manipulate request parameters to change document sharing types without proper authorization checks, leveraging the missing validation controls in the application's permission model. This type of vulnerability often stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization verification at the application layer, where the system fails to properly authenticate user intent before executing sensitive operations. The flaw demonstrates a failure in implementing proper role-based access controls and may indicate broader issues in the platform's security architecture that could affect other similar operations within the system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected Kibana versions, implementing additional input validation controls, and strengthening authorization checks for document sharing operations. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of access control mechanisms and implement monitoring for suspicious document sharing activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and defense in depth, where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and access control lists to further restrict potentially malicious requests and monitor for anomalous behavior patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.