CVE-2026-115711 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 credential disclosure via Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data (CAPEC-37). ECE stores runtime information about platform service containers in a location that lower-privileged platform components can read, and this information includes secrets from the container configuration. An attacker with access to the internal ECE platform services can obtain these secrets, which include role tokens. A role token can let the attacker add an unauthorized host to the installation with the roles of that token.
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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 a file or directory accessible by external actors within Elastic Cloud Enterprise. This specific flaw allows for credential disclosure through the exploitation technique known as Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data, categorized under CAPEC-37. The core issue lies in how ECE manages runtime configuration data for platform service containers. These configurations contain critical secrets and authentication tokens necessary for the proper functioning of various services within the cluster architecture.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient access controls on files that store these container configurations. While higher-level administrative components require read access to this information, lower-privileged internal platform components are also granted permission to read it. This design oversight creates a lateral movement opportunity where an attacker who has gained initial foothold within the ECE infrastructure can traverse to less privileged service accounts and subsequently extract sensitive data from these accessible files. The stored secrets include role tokens which serve as critical authentication mechanisms for managing cluster nodes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily due to the potential for unauthorized host addition. Once an attacker obtains a valid role token through this information disclosure, they can leverage it to register new hosts into the Elastic Cloud Enterprise installation without proper authorization. This capability effectively allows the adversary to expand their control over the environment by adding compromised or maliciously controlled nodes that operate with elevated privileges defined by the stolen token roles. Such actions compromise the integrity and availability of the entire cloud deployment.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to Credential Access and Defense Evasion. The attacker utilizes valid credentials obtained through system configuration exposure to maintain persistence and escalate privilege within the environment. This scenario highlights the importance of strict separation of duties and least-privilege principles in cloud-native platform architectures where multiple services interact closely.
Mitigation strategies should focus on restricting file permissions so that only necessary components with explicit need-to-know access can read sensitive container configurations. Implementing robust secret management solutions, such as dedicated vaults or encrypted storage mechanisms, would further reduce the risk of plaintext exposure. Additionally, regular auditing of internal service permissions and monitoring for unusual host registration activities can help detect exploitation attempts early. Patching to versions that address this specific configuration issue is essential for maintaining security posture in affected Elastic Cloud Enterprise deployments.