Analysis Summary

Elastic has released security updates to fix a critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-25012, CVSS 9.9) in Kibana, the data visualization tool for Elasticsearch. The flaw, classified as prototype pollution, allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution through a crafted file upload and specific HTTP requests.

The issue affects Kibana versions 8.15.0 to 8.17.3, with 8.17.3 containing the fix. Exploitation depends on Kibana versions:

• Versions 8.15.0 to 8.17.1 – Only users with the Viewer role can exploit it.
• Versions 8.17.1 to 8.17.2 – Requires fleet-all, integrations-all, and actions:execute-advanced-connectors privileges.

Users should immediately update to version 8.17.3. If patching is not feasible, a temporary mitigation is disabling the Integration Assistant feature by setting "xpack.integration_assistant.enabled: false" in kibana.yml.

This marks another serious security issue in Kibana. In August 2024, Elastic fixed CVE-2024-37287 (CVSS 9.9), another prototype pollution flaw leading to code execution. A month later, it addressed two deserialization vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-37288, CVSS 9.9 & CVE-2024-37285, CVSS 9.1), both capable of enabling arbitrary code execution.

Given the severity, users are strongly urged to apply the latest security patches to prevent potential exploits.

Impact

• Remote Code Execution

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2025-25012

Remediation

• Refer to Elastic Security Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.