CVE-2018-3831: Exposure of Sensitive Information in Elasticsearch
Summary
CVE-2018-3831: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Elasticsearch. Affects org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch across 2 version ranges.
>= 5.6.0, < 5.6.12
>= 6.0.0, < 6.4.1
Fixed in 5.6.12 or 6.4.1, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
Elasticsearch is an open-source search and analytics engine that provides distributed, real-time search and analytics capabilities. It is commonly used for log analytics, full-text search, and data visualization. The Elasticsearch package, specifically versions before 6.4.1 or 5.6.12, is vulnerable to an information disclosure issue when secrets are configured via the API.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in Elasticsearch Alerting and Monitoring allows an unauthorized actor to access sensitive configuration information, such as passwords, tokens, or usernames. When the Elasticsearch _cluster/settings API is queried, this information could be leaked, potentially leading to unauthorized access and misuse of the exposed credentials. This vulnerability affects authenticated Elasticsearch users who can exploit the issue to view sensitive details.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 9.5.5 as of 22 Oct 2026
Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the versions below are the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you can't move to the latest
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 5.6.0, < 5.6.125.6.12 -
>= 6.0.0, < 6.4.16.4.1
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no specific workaround available for this vulnerability. It is essential to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to the patched versions of Elasticsearch.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in Elasticsearch exposes sensitive information to unauthorized actors, potentially leading to unauthorized access and misuse of credentials. It is crucial to upgrade to the patched versions of Elasticsearch to mitigate this issue. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch →
FAQ
Elasticsearch is an open-source search and analytics engine used for log analytics, full-text search, and data visualization.
Versions before 6.4.1 or 5.6.12 of Elasticsearch are vulnerable to this information disclosure issue.
The vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to sensitive configuration information, leading to potential misuse of exposed credentials.
To fix this vulnerability, upgrade to Elasticsearch version 6.4.1 or 5.6.12, depending on the affected version.
No, there is no specific workaround available. It is crucial to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to the patched versions of Elasticsearch.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch.
