Elastic has recently issued a security advisory concerning a medium-severity vulnerability in the Kibana CrowdStrike Connector, identified as CVE-2025-37728. This flaw could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive credentials within the Kibana environment, highlighting the critical need for prompt software updates and vigilant security practices.
Understanding the Vulnerability
The vulnerability, termed Insufficiently Protected Credentials in the CrowdStrike Connector, carries a CVSSv3.1 score of 5.4, categorizing it as a medium-severity issue. It affects a broad spectrum of Kibana versions, including:
– All 7.x versions up to 7.17.29
– Versions 8.14.0 through 8.18.7
– Versions 8.19.0 through 8.19.4
– Versions 9.0.0 through 9.0.7
– Versions 9.1.0 through 9.1.4
In environments where multiple spaces are utilized within a single Kibana instance, a malicious user with access to one space can exploit this vulnerability. By creating and executing a new CrowdStrike connector, they can access cached credentials from an existing connector operating in a different space. This unauthorized cross-space access could lead to the exposure of API credentials used for communication between Kibana and the CrowdStrike Management Console.
Potential Impact
If exploited, this vulnerability could result in the leakage of credentials, granting attackers the ability to interact with the CrowdStrike platform using the privileges of the compromised account. Such unauthorized access poses significant risks, including data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and potential disruption of security operations.
Mitigation Measures
Elastic has addressed this security flaw in the following patched versions:
– 8.18.8
– 8.19.5
– 9.0.8
– 9.1.5
Users operating vulnerable versions are strongly advised to upgrade to one of these patched releases immediately. Notably, Elastic has indicated that there are no available workarounds for those unable to upgrade promptly, making the application of these patches the only effective solution to mitigate the risk.
The Role of the Kibana CrowdStrike Connector
The Kibana CrowdStrike Connector is designed to facilitate seamless integration between the CrowdStrike Falcon platform and Elastic. It enables automated incident correlation and telemetry onboarding, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations. The credentials involved are essential for authenticating with the CrowdStrike REST API, underscoring the importance of their protection to maintain a robust security posture across both platforms.
Broader Security Context
This advisory (ESA-2025-19) is part of a comprehensive security update from Elastic, which also addresses several other vulnerabilities in Kibana and Elasticsearch. The absence of alternative mitigation strategies for this particular flaw emphasizes the necessity for administrators to prioritize the update to prevent potential credential theft and subsequent misuse.
Conclusion
The disclosure of CVE-2025-37728 serves as a critical reminder of the security challenges inherent in interconnected platforms. Organizations utilizing Kibana, especially those integrating with CrowdStrike, must remain vigilant, ensuring timely updates and regular configuration reviews to minimize exposure to such vulnerabilities. Proactive measures are essential to safeguard sensitive credentials and maintain the integrity of security infrastructures.
