Authorization bypass in Elasticsearch cross-cluster search
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · None
- Fix status
- Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-639.
Summary
Elasticsearch versions from 8.13.0 through 8.19.22, from 9.0.0 through 9.4.7, and from 9.5.0 through 9.5.4 are affected. An authorization check validates one shard identifier while a second, independently supplied identifier selects the shard accessed, a flaw classified as CWE-639. A holder of a cross-cluster API key authorized for one index can send a crafted cross-cluster search request to read document contents, field mappings and metadata of a different, unauthorized index.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29
Description from the CNA
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (CWE-639) in Elasticsearch can lead to Information Disclosure via a specially crafted cross-cluster search request that references an unauthorized shard identifier. Elasticsearch contains an authorization bypass weakness in its handling of cross-cluster search requests made through the Remote Cluster Security (RCS) 2.0 model. An authorization check validates a request against one identifying attribute of the target shard, while a separate, independently-supplied identifying attribute in the same request determines which shard is actually accessed. A holder of a cross-cluster API key authorized for one index can craft a request whose two identifying attributes refer to different indices, causing the request to be authorized against an index they can access while actually operating against a different, unauthorized index. This can expose that index's document contents, field mappings, and other metadata, and in limited cases allows modification of retention-lease state on the unauthorized index.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elastic | Elasticsearch | 8.13.0 – 8.19.22; 9.0.0 – 9.4.7; 9.5.0 – 9.5.4 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Elasticsearch VendorElastic Affected 8.13.0 – 8.19.22; 9.0.0 – 9.4.7; 9.5.0 – 9.5.4 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:elastic:elasticsearch:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.13.0 to before 8.19.23; 9.0.0 to before 9.4.8; 9.5.0 to before 9.5.5 | Vulnerable | Elastic |
- cpe:2.3:a:elastic:elasticsearch:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.13.0 to before 8.19.23; 9.0.0 to before 9.4.8; 9.5.0 to before 9.5.5 Vulnerable ·Elastic
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Elasticsearch. Red Hat lists Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) as affected with its plan marked none available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Quay 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-103009
- 2026-10-07 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-07 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-07 Alias added: GHSA-jh46-59x3-g5qh
- 2026-10-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-07 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Elasticsearch vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-01295 The Groovy scripting engine in Elasticsearch before 1.3.8 and 1.4.x before 1.4.3 allows… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-02491 The default configuration in Elasticsearch before 1.2 enables dynamic scripting, which… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2023-15037 Elasticsearch StackOverflow vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2021-05135 Information disclosure in Elasticsearch CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2021-05136 All versions of Elastic Cloud Enterprise has the Elasticsearch “anonymous” user enabled… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2015-04530 Elasticsearch before 1.6.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-103009 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-103009 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jh46-59x3-g5qh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-103009 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences