Description

Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) in Kibana can lead to unauthorized configuration modification via Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels (CAPEC-180).

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.1",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-03T19:17:29.827Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-03T19:17:29.827Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability is classified as Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863), representing a critical failure in the access control mechanisms within the Kibana application.\nThe flaw enables an attacker to bypass intended security constraints, specifically facilitating unauthorized configuration modification.\nBy leveraging techniques consistent with Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels (CAPEC-180), an authenticated or unauthenticated attacker—depending on the specific deployment—can manipulate sensitive system settings.\nThe primary risk involves the potential for complete control over Kibana configurations, which could lead to data exposure, persistent cross-site scripting, or full administrative compromise of the instance.\nExploitation requires an attacker to identify endpoint or API parameters that lack server-side validation against the user's current security clearance or privilege level.\nOrganizations relying on Kibana are at risk of unauthorized system re-configuration, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of the logging and monitoring stack.",
  "technicalDetails": "The core issue originates from an Improper Authorization (CWE-863) defect where the Kibana application fails to enforce granular access control checks on specific configuration-related API endpoints.\nThe vulnerability aligns with CAPEC-180, where the security architecture incorrectly assumes that a request made to a configuration-modifying endpoint is inherently authorized if the user has minimal access to the broader Kibana UI.\nThe exploitation flow typically begins with an attacker identifying the specific REST API calls Kibana issues when modifications are performed through the web interface. Once the request structure is identified, the attacker tests these endpoints to determine if the server-side logic validates the 'Authorization' token or session context against the requested action's privilege requirements.\nIf the server-side code performs a 'Confused Deputy' or simply checks for the presence of a session rather than the specific capability (RBAC), the attacker can successfully issue HTTP PUT or POST requests to modify global settings.\nThe vulnerable component typically resides in the server-side configuration handler which processes user-supplied JSON payloads. By submitting a crafted payload, an attacker can overwrite application parameters, such as enabling disabled features, modifying security settings, or redirecting output destinations.\nFrom a network perspective, if the Kibana instance is exposed, this attack can be carried out remotely. The exploit does not necessarily require complex payload obfuscation, as it relies on the logical omission of authorization checks rather than memory corruption.\nUpon successful exploitation, the post-exploitation impact includes the potential for persistent configuration changes that could be used for data exfiltration, service disruption, or facilitating further attacks (such as injecting malicious scripts into saved dashboards). The lack of rigorous validation at the function level means the application trusts the user-provided configuration state without verifying the actor's permission to perform such a state change.\nThe vulnerability highlights a failure in the application's internal security policy enforcement, where authorization is decoupled from the specific sensitivity of the configuration resource being accessed."
}