Description

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic (CWE-943) in Kibana can lead to information disclosure via NoSQL Injection (CAPEC-676). An authenticated user with access to the affected query functionality could submit specially crafted input that alters the intended query logic, returning data the user is not authorized to read.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-01T20:17:15.247Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-01T20:17:15.247Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability is classified as CWE-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic, resulting in NoSQL Injection (CAPEC-676) within Kibana.\nThe flaw resides in the application's query processing logic, allowing an authenticated attacker to manipulate backend database queries through specially crafted input.\nSuccessful exploitation enables unauthorized information disclosure, permitting an attacker to bypass intended data access controls and retrieve sensitive information from the underlying storage layer that they would otherwise be restricted from viewing.\nThe vulnerability requires the attacker to be authenticated and possess specific access to the vulnerable query functionality within the Kibana interface.\nRisk implications include potential data breaches and exposure of confidential records, necessitating prompt remediation to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.\nThere is no evidence of remote unauthenticated access requirements; the vector is localized to authorized users leveraging query-based features.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability stems from the improper sanitization and neutralization of user-supplied input when constructing NoSQL queries within Kibana's internal query processing engine. In environments where Kibana interfaces with NoSQL databases, the application fails to adequately distinguish between literal query data and executable query logic.\nThe root cause is a failure in the input validation layer, which allows special characters or query operators to be interpreted as command elements by the database driver. This enables an attacker to perform NoSQL injection, a technique where the syntax of the database query is modified by injecting object-based operators or modifying the query structure.\nThe exploitation flow initiates when an authenticated user supplies a crafted payload into a query-related input field. Because the backend logic does not strictly parameterize the input, the injected query operators are concatenated into the original query object.\nFor instance, an attacker might inject MongoDB-style operators—such as $gt, $ne, or $where—to alter the query logic. By successfully injecting these operators, the attacker can force the database to return results that bypass existing filters or access control checks, effectively escalating their data retrieval capabilities beyond their assigned privileges.\nThe attack vector relies on the user's existing authenticated session to access the query-processing module. Upon submitting the malicious payload, the application processes the altered query and returns the sensitive data in the HTTP response. The impact is primarily categorized as unauthorized information disclosure, as the attacker can exfiltrate data stored in the NoSQL database that is outside their authorized scope.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes the systematic harvesting of data, potential insight into the internal data structure, and the bypass of security mechanisms designed to limit the visibility of records within Kibana. The extent of the compromise depends on the permissions of the database user account utilized by Kibana and the exposure of the specific query modules to the authenticated user."
}