CVE-2026-115707 in Cloud Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2026
Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory (CWE-538) in Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) can lead to privilege escalation via Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data (CAPEC-37). After the ECE certificate rotation procedure runs, data that it retains contains platform credentials and certificate authority private keys, and lower-privileged platform components can read this data. An attacker who controls any host in the installation can use this data to get full control of the ECE control plane and of the deployments that it manages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CWE-538 involves the improper insertion of sensitive information into files or directories accessible by external entities, specifically within Elastic Cloud Enterprise during its certificate rotation procedure. This flaw allows for privilege escalation through CAPEC-37, which describes retrieving embedded sensitive data to gain unauthorized access. The core issue arises because after the ECE certificate rotation process completes, residual data containing platform credentials and private keys of the certificate authority remains in locations that are readable by lower-privileged components within the system architecture. This creates a significant security gap where information intended for high-level administrative processes is exposed to less privileged services or users who should not have access to such critical material.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks as it enables attackers with control over any host in the installation environment to escalate their privileges significantly. By accessing these retained credentials and private keys, an attacker can achieve full control over both the ECE control plane and all deployments managed by that platform. This level of access allows for comprehensive manipulation of cloud infrastructure, including potential data exfiltration, service disruption, or further lateral movement within the network. The ability to read certificate authority private keys is particularly dangerous as it compromises the integrity of secure communications across the entire deployment ecosystem.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation efforts should focus on ensuring that sensitive materials generated during cryptographic operations are securely deleted once they are no longer needed. Implementing strict file permission controls will prevent lower-privileged components from accessing these files even if they remain temporarily in accessible directories. Additionally, adopting a principle of least privilege across all platform components ensures that only the necessary services have access to critical security artifacts. Regular audits of certificate rotation procedures and automated cleanup mechanisms can help maintain compliance with industry standards such as CWE-538 while reducing the attack surface for potential adversaries seeking to exploit embedded sensitive data vulnerabilities.