CVE-2019-13423 : Security Advisory and Response

Search Guard Kibana Plugin versions prior to 5.6.8-7 and 6.x.y-12 allowed an authenticated Kibana user to impersonate the kibanaserver user under specific conditions.

Understanding CVE-2019-13423

Versions of the Search Guard Kibana Plugin had a vulnerability that could lead to improper authentication.

What is CVE-2019-13423?

The CVE-2019-13423 vulnerability in the Search Guard Kibana Plugin allowed an authorized Kibana user to assume the identity of the kibanaserver user if incorrect credentials were provided under certain conditions.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13423

This vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access and misuse of privileges within the system, compromising the security of the Kibana environment.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13423

The technical aspects of the CVE-2019-13423 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when specific conditions related to Single-Sign-On, HTTP Basic authentication, and Search Guard configuration are met, allowing for impersonation of the kibanaserver user.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Search Guard Kibana Plugin
Vendor: floragunn
Versions Affected:
Less than 5.6.8-7 (custom version)
Less than 6.x.y-12 (custom version)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an authenticated Kibana user providing incorrect credentials under the outlined conditions, leading to unauthorized impersonation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2019-13423 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to a fixed version of the Search Guard Kibana Plugin that addresses the vulnerability.
Review and adjust authentication configurations to prevent unauthorized impersonation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update authentication mechanisms and configurations.
Conduct security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor to ensure the security of the Kibana environment.