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Elasticsearch PKI Realm Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Allows User Impersonation Through Crafted Client Certificates

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Dec 15, 2025 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Dec 16, 2025

Package

org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch (Maven)

Affected versions

>= 7.0.0-alpha1, < 8.19.8
>= 9.0.0-beta1, < 9.1.8
>= 9.2.0, < 9.2.2

Patched versions

8.19.8
9.1.8
9.2.2

Description

Improper Authentication in Elasticsearch PKI realm can lead to user impersonation via specially crafted client certificates. A malicious actor would need to have such a crafted client certificate signed by a legitimate, trusted Certificate Authority.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Dec 15, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Dec 15, 2025
Reviewed Dec 16, 2025
Last updated Dec 16, 2025

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(11th percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. Learn more on MITRE.

Improper Certificate Validation

The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-37731

GHSA ID

GHSA-m9gh-789g-q5pv

Source code

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