Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) in Kibana can lead to unauthorized configuration modification via Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control S...
Description
Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) in Kibana can lead to unauthorized configuration modification via Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels (CAPEC-180).
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Apply vendor security updates immediately. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Description Summary:
Kibana contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability that allows authenticated users with low privileges to perform unauthorized configuration modifications.
Executive Summary:
A high-severity authorization flaw in Elastic Kibana allows authenticated users to modify sensitive configurations, posing a significant risk to data integrity and system security.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-82302
Affected Software: Elastic Kibana
Affected Versions: 8.0.0 through 8.19.20, 9.0.0 through 9.4.5, 9.5.0 through 9.5.2
Vulnerability: This vulnerability is an incorrect authorization flaw (CWE-863) where the system fails to properly validate permissions. It allows an authenticated user to bypass intended access control security levels and modify system configurations.
Business Impact
The ability for a low-privileged authenticated user to modify Kibana configurations can lead to unauthorized data exposure, system manipulation, or the disruption of security monitoring capabilities. With a CVSS score of 8.1, this vulnerability represents a high risk to organizational security posture. If exploited, attackers could alter dashboards or audit settings, potentially masking malicious activity or gaining deeper access into the underlying Elasticsearch environment.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: Update to the patched versions provided by Elastic in security advisory ESA-2026-178, specifically versions 8.19.22, 9.4.7, or 9.5.3.
Proactive Monitoring: Review Kibana access logs for suspicious configuration changes or unauthorized modifications performed by non-administrative user accounts.
Compensating Controls: Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies and limit the number of users with configuration modification permissions until patching is completed.
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: Unknown.
Analyst Notes: As of September 4, 2026, there is no public information indicating active exploitation or a public proof-of-concept for this vulnerability. The vulnerability requires an authenticated user, which somewhat limits the attack surface, but the high impact of configuration modification warrants immediate attention.
Analyst Recommendation
Given the potential for unauthorized configuration changes, administrators should treat this vulnerability with urgency. The primary recommendation is to prioritize the deployment of the security updates referenced in the Elastic advisory to ensure that access controls are correctly enforced. Failure to patch may allow malicious actors to compromise the integrity of the Kibana instance and its associated data streams.