CVE-2026-19311 in OpenSearch
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Missing authorization in the Execute Monitor API in Amazon OpenSearch Alerting plugin might allow an authenticated remote user to read, modify, or delete arbitrary index data via a crafted inline monitor request with unintentional data source and input index parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the Amazon OpenSearch Alerting plugin's Execute Monitor API component. This issue stems from insufficient access control validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify whether authenticated users possess adequate permissions to perform operations on specific index resources. The flaw specifically manifests when processing inline monitor requests that contain data source and input index parameters, where the system does not adequately validate user authorization against the targeted indices. Such a vulnerability creates a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges beyond intended boundaries and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the OpenSearch cluster.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper authorization checks during monitor execution processes. When an authenticated user submits a crafted inline monitor request, the system processes the request without validating whether the requesting entity has appropriate permissions to access or modify the specified indices referenced in the data source and input parameters. This authorization gap allows attackers to potentially target arbitrary index data regardless of their actual access rights within the system. The flaw operates at the API layer where monitor execution logic fails to enforce proper access control policies, creating a direct vector for unauthorized data operations including read, modification, and deletion activities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Amazon OpenSearch Alerting plugin for monitoring and alerting purposes. An authenticated attacker could leverage this flaw to access sensitive information stored in various indices, potentially compromising confidential data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The ability to modify or delete arbitrary index data introduces additional operational concerns including potential data integrity violations, service disruption, and compliance violations. Organizations may face regulatory penalties and reputational damage if unauthorized access to protected data occurs due to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where strict data governance policies are enforced.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authorization controls within the Execute Monitor API component. The primary remediation involves strengthening access control validation mechanisms to ensure that all inline monitor requests undergo proper permission checks against the specified indices before any data operations are executed. Organizations should implement principle of least privilege configurations, ensuring users can only access indices for which they have explicit authorization. Additionally, regular security audits of API endpoints and monitoring for anomalous access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation should align with established security frameworks including cwe-284 for improper access control and follow att&ck tactics such as privilege escalation and defense evasion when analyzing the threat landscape. Organizations must also consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms to track monitor execution activities and identify unauthorized access attempts, ensuring that security controls remain effective against evolving attack vectors targeting similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in distributed systems.