CVE-2023-46673 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Elasticsearch versions 7.0.0 and 8.0.0 has been identified that could allow an attacker to crash an Elasticsearch node by using malformed scripts in the script processor of an Ingest Pipeline when calling the Simulate Pipeline API.

Understanding CVE-2023-46673

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-46673 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-46673?

The CVE-2023-46673 vulnerability pertains to Elasticsearch where malformed scripts in the script processor of an Ingest Pipeline can lead to a crash of an Elasticsearch node when the Simulate Pipeline API is invoked.

The Impact of CVE-2023-46673

The impact of CVE-2023-46673 is rated as MEDIUM severity with a CVSS base score of 6.5. The attack complexity is low, but the availability impact is high. The vulnerability falls under CWE-755 regarding the improper handling of exceptional conditions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-46673

In this section, the technical aspects of CVE-2023-46673 are discussed.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of malformed scripts in the script processor of an Ingest Pipeline, leading to a crash of Elasticsearch nodes during the execution of the Simulate Pipeline API.

Affected Systems and Versions

Elasticsearch versions 7.0.0 and 8.0.0 are affected by this vulnerability. Versions less than 7.17.14 and 8.10.3 are susceptible.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves crafting and executing malformed scripts in the script processor of an Ingest Pipeline, specifically when utilizing the Simulate Pipeline API to trigger the crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights into mitigating and preventing the exploitation of CVE-2023-46673.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Elasticsearch installations to versions 7.17.14 and 8.10.3 or newer to address this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring for any unusual activities that might indicate an attempted exploit is recommended.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance long-term security, organizations should regularly update their Elasticsearch installations and implement security best practices, such as restricting access and permissions.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates provided by Elastic is crucial to safeguarding systems against known vulnerabilities.