CVE-2025-25016 Overview
CVE-2025-25016 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability in Elastic Kibana. An authenticated attacker can compromise software integrity by uploading a crafted malicious file. The flaw stems from insufficient server-side validation of uploaded content, allowing attackers to bypass expected file-type restrictions. The weakness is tracked under [CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type].
The issue affects Kibana versions prior to 7.17.19 and 8.13.0. Elastic published remediation details in security advisory ESA-2024-47.
Critical Impact
Authenticated users with upload privileges can introduce malicious files into Kibana, undermining the integrity of the deployment and downstream analytics workflows.
Affected Products
- Elastic Kibana versions prior to 7.17.19
- Elastic Kibana 8.x versions prior to 8.13.0
- Deployments exposing authenticated upload functionality to untrusted users
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-01 - CVE CVE-2025-25016 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-25016
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Kibana's file upload handling. The server does not sufficiently validate the content of files submitted through authenticated upload paths. An attacker with valid credentials can submit a crafted file whose actual contents or type diverge from what the application expects.
The attack requires network access to the Kibana interface and valid user credentials. User interaction is not required. The impact is limited to integrity, with no direct effect on confidentiality or availability per the published CVSS vector. The EPSS probability remains low, reflecting limited observed exploitation attempts.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or incomplete server-side validation of uploaded files. Kibana accepts upload payloads without enforcing strict checks on file type, structure, or signature. This permits an authenticated user to replace or supplement legitimate content with attacker-controlled data, violating the integrity assumptions of downstream components that consume the uploaded files.
Attack Vector
Exploitation proceeds over the network against the authenticated Kibana API. The attacker authenticates as a user with upload permissions, then submits a specially crafted file that passes superficial checks but contains malicious or unexpected content. See the Elastic Discuss Security Update ESA-2024-47 for Elastic's description of the issue.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available at the time of writing.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-25016
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected files appearing in Kibana upload directories or associated Elasticsearch indices
- Upload requests from user accounts that do not typically use file ingest features
- File uploads with mismatched declared Content-Type headers and actual payload signatures
Detection Strategies
- Inspect Kibana audit logs for file upload events and correlate with user roles and session metadata
- Compare the MIME type declared on upload requests against the magic bytes of the stored file
- Alert on uploads originating from service accounts or automation keys that should not have interactive upload rights
Monitoring Recommendations
- Centralize Kibana and Elasticsearch audit logs in a SIEM for long-term correlation
- Baseline normal upload frequency per user and alert on statistical deviations
- Monitor outbound connections and process executions on hosts that consume files uploaded through Kibana
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-25016
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Kibana to version 7.17.19, 8.13.0, or later as specified in ESA-2024-47
- Review and reduce the set of accounts holding file upload privileges in Kibana
- Rotate credentials and API keys for any users whose upload activity cannot be verified as legitimate
Patch Information
Elastic addressed the vulnerability in Kibana 7.17.19 and 8.13.0. Apply the vendor-supplied upgrade following the guidance in the Elastic Discuss Security Update ESA-2024-47. Confirm patch application by validating the running Kibana version in the server status endpoint.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to Kibana so that only trusted administrators can reach upload endpoints
- Place an upstream reverse proxy or web application firewall that validates upload MIME types and file signatures
- Disable or role-gate features that rely on file upload until the patched version is deployed
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
