CVE-2026-72650 in Kibana
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (CWE-639) in Kibana can lead to information disclosure via Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs (CAPEC-1). An authenticated user who is authorized to read alerting rules in a single Kibana space could retrieve alerting rule execution telemetry that belongs to spaces the user is not authorized to access. The disclosed telemetry includes rule identifiers, rule names, space identifiers, execution outcomes, timestamps, and execution counters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw classified as CWE-639, which specifically targets the improper handling of user-controlled keys within Kibana's access control mechanisms. The issue manifests when an authenticated user with read permissions for alerting rules in one Kibana space can exploit a weakness in the system's validation processes to access telemetry data from other spaces they should not have access to. This occurs because the application fails to properly validate and constrain user requests based on their assigned permissions, allowing them to manipulate the key parameters used to identify specific rule execution data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within Kibana's alerting subsystem. When users request telemetry information for alerting rules, the system should verify that the requested space identifiers align with the user's authorized access boundaries before returning any data. However, in this case, the application processes user-supplied parameters without sufficient authorization checks, enabling attackers to construct requests that reference unauthorized spaces. The flaw operates at the intersection of improper access control validation and user input manipulation, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through controlled key parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. The telemetry data exposed includes sensitive information such as rule identifiers, names, space identifiers, execution outcomes, timestamps, and execution counters which collectively provide attackers with detailed insights into the organization's security monitoring infrastructure. This intelligence could reveal the presence of specific alerting rules, their effectiveness, operational patterns, and potentially expose weaknesses in the organization's security posture that could be exploited for further unauthorized access or evasion.
Organizations utilizing Kibana's alerting capabilities face significant risk from this vulnerability as it undermines fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement. The exposure of cross-space telemetry data creates opportunities for attackers to map the security landscape across multiple environments, potentially identifying high-value targets within the organization's monitoring infrastructure. This information could be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks against specific alerting rules or to understand the operational patterns of security teams. The vulnerability also violates core principles of data isolation that should exist between different organizational units or security domains within Kibana spaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control enforcement mechanisms throughout the alerting telemetry retrieval process. Organizations must ensure that all user requests containing space identifiers or rule references undergo strict authorization checks before any data is returned. This includes validating that requested resources belong to spaces where the authenticated user has appropriate permissions, implementing proper ACL enforcement at multiple layers of the application architecture, and establishing comprehensive logging of access attempts for security monitoring purposes. The remediation should align with established security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and should incorporate defensive measures against common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and credential access through improper access control mechanisms.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in parameter validation can result in significant security implications when combined with proper exploitation techniques. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Kibana installations to identify similar authorization bypass patterns throughout the application's functionality. Regular security testing including penetration testing and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect and remediate such issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Additionally, implementing proper security awareness training for administrators and developers regarding access control design principles can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.