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CVE-2017-8438

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as...

8.8 High

CVE-2017-8438 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Elastic X-pack, published June 5, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.03%, the 64th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

What does this mean?
Severity
8.8 HighCVSS 3.0, NVD
Exploit chance
1.03%EPSS, 64th percentile
Exploitation
None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
Fixed in
No fix listedNo source names one

Description

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as functionality. This bug prevents transitioning into the specified user specified in a run_as request. If a role has been created using a template that contains the _user properties, the behavior of run_as will be incorrect. Additionally if the run_as user specified does not exist, the transition will not happen.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

1.03%Up 0.2 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

Affected products

What each source reports

NVD Score used8.8

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as functionality. This bug prevents transitioning into the specified user specified in a run_as request. If a role has been created using a template that contains the _user properties, the behavior of run_as will be incorrect. Additionally if the run_as user specified does not exist, the transition will not happen.

Record
CVE-2017-8438
CVSS 3.0
8.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
6.5 MediumAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-284, CWE-269
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as functionality. This bug prevents transitioning into the specified user specified in a run_as request. If a role has been created using a template that contains the _user properties, the behavior of run_as will be incorrect. Additionally if the run_as user specified does not exist, the transition will not happen.

Record
CVE-2017-8438
Weakness
CWE-284
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-17389No score

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as functionality. This bug prevents transitioning into the specified user specified in a run_as request. If a role has been created using a template that contains the _user properties, the behavior of run_as will be incorrect. Additionally if the run_as user specified does not exist, the transition will not happen.

Record
EUVD-2017-17389
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c4fv-4x26-f38h8.8

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as...

Elastic X-Pack Security versions 5.0.0 to 5.4.0 contain a privilege escalation bug in the run_as functionality. This bug prevents transitioning into the specified user specified in a run_as request. If a role has been created using a template that contains the _user properties, the behavior of run_as will be incorrect. Additionally if the run_as user specified does not exist, the transition will not happen.

Record
GHSA-c4fv-4x26-f38h
CVSS 3.0
8.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-269, CWE-284
Updated
2026-11-02

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

References

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