CVE-2014-6439: Elasticsearch Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8699-m855-cwqf
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CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-6439 is a MODERATE cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Elasticsearch libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting in elasticsearch. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.0.Beta1.

CVE-2014-6439 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-6439
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8699-m855-cwqf
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Elasticsearch
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-6439

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Elasticsearch dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch fixed: 1.4.0.Beta1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.elasticsearch</groupId>
    <artifactId>elasticsearch</artifactId>
    <version>1.4.0.Beta1</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.elasticsearch

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2014-6439, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.elasticsearch

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Elasticsearch in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.0.Beta1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.elasticsearch command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Elasticsearch, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the CORS functionality in Elasticsearch before 1.4.0.Beta1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.

CVE-2014-6439 Affected Elasticsearch Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.0.Beta1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch
maven/org.elasticsearch/elasticsearch
Maven
< 1.4.0.Beta1
1.4.0.Beta1

References

NVD — CVE-2014-6439 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-6439
Elasticsearch Security Information SECURITY
https://www.elastic.co/community/security
Elasticsearch Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/128556/Elasticsearch-1.3.x-CORS-Issue.html
Elasticsearch Release RELEASE
http://www.elasticsearch.org/blog/elasticsearch-1-4-0-beta-released
Elasticsearch Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/533602/100/0/threaded
Elasticsearch Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70233

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-6439?
CVE-2014-6439 is a security vulnerability in Elasticsearch involving Cross-site scripting in Elasticsearch under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Elasticsearch versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.0.Beta1 across affected packages: org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch.
What version fixes CVE-2014-6439?
Upgrading to 1.4.0.Beta1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is elasticsearch affected?
Yes, org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch is affected in releases prior to 1.4.0.Beta1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.0.Beta1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-6439?
CVE-2014-6439 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-6439?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.elasticsearch'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-8699-m855-cwqf",
  "modified" : "2022-11-03T21:07:52Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T02:51:14Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-6439" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-site scripting in Elasticsearch",
  "details" : "Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the CORS functionality in Elasticsearch before 1.4.0.Beta1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.0.Beta1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-6439"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.elastic.co/community/security"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/128556/Elasticsearch-1.3.x-CORS-Issue.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.elasticsearch.org/blog/elasticsearch-1-4-0-beta-released"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/533602/100/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70233"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T21:07:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-10-10T01:55:00Z"
  }
}