CVE-2019-7611 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An authorization problem was detected in Elasticsearch versions prior to 5.6.15 and 6.6.1, potentially exposing data and granting unauthorized permissions to attackers.

Understanding CVE-2019-7611

This CVE identifies an issue in Elasticsearch versions that could lead to improper access control.

What is CVE-2019-7611?

An authorization problem in Elasticsearch versions before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1
Occurs when Field Level Security and Document Level Security are deactivated
Vulnerability arises when specific endpoints are utilized with security settings disabled
Allows exposure of existing data under a new index or alias name

The Impact of CVE-2019-7611

Potential unauthorized access to restricted data
Attackers may gain additional permissions beyond what is intended

Technical Details of CVE-2019-7611

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Authorization issue in Elasticsearch versions before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1
Specific permission checks are omitted when certain actions are performed

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Elasticsearch
Vendor: Elastic
Versions Affected: Before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Deactivation of Field Level Security and Document Level Security
Usage of _aliases, _shrink, or _split endpoints

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-7611 with these strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Enable Field Level Security and Document Level Security
Update Elasticsearch to versions 5.6.15 or 6.6.1
Review and adjust xpack.security.dls_fls.enabled settings

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations
Implement least privilege access controls

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly
Stay informed about security updates for Elasticsearch