CVE-2018-3818 : Security Advisory and Response

Kibana versions 5.1.1 to 6.1.2 and 5.6.6 had a security vulnerability related to cross-site scripting (XSS) that could potentially allow attackers to access sensitive information or perform harmful actions.

Understanding CVE-2018-3818

This CVE involves a cross-site scripting vulnerability in Kibana versions 5.1.1 to 6.1.2 and 5.6.6, specifically through the colored fields formatter.

What is CVE-2018-3818?

The colored fields formatter in the affected Kibana versions had a security vulnerability known as cross-site scripting (XSS). This type of vulnerability could enable attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of an end-user's browser.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3818

The XSS vulnerability in Kibana could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or perform malicious actions while impersonating legitimate users.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3818

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Kibana versions 5.1.1 to 6.1.2 and 5.6.6 allowed for cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks through the colored fields formatter, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or malicious activities.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Kibana
Vendor: Elastic
Versions: 5.1.1 to 6.1.2 and 5.6.6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the colored fields formatter, tricking the application into executing these scripts in the context of other Kibana users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3818 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Kibana to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability.
Monitor for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches released by Elastic for Kibana to ensure that known vulnerabilities, including XSS issues, are promptly addressed.