CVE-2025-68388: Github.com/elastic/beats Elasticsearch Packetbeat Has Excessive Allocation Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2025-68388 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) elasticsearch packetbeat has excessive allocation vulnerability (CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling) affecting Github.com/elastic/beats libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves elasticsearch packetbeat has excessive allocation of memory and cpu via malicious ipv4 fragments. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.19.9, 9.1.9, 9.2.3, 7.0.0-alpha2.0.20251209162832-28cfc80d2f4e.
CVE-2025-68388 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.5
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2025-68388
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/elastic/beats dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/elastic/beats to 8.19.9Upgrade github.com/elastic/beats to 9.1.9Upgrade github.com/elastic/beats to 9.2.3Upgrade github.com/elastic/beats/v7 to 7.0.0-alpha2.0.20251209162832-28cfc80d2f4eRun the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/elastic/beatsHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-68388, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/elastic/beats:
inspect dependencies for github.com/elastic/beatsAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/elastic/beats in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 8.19.9), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, where the product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated. In Github.com/elastic/beats, 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
CVE-2025-68388 Affected Github.com/elastic/beats Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/elastic/beats
|
Go |
≥ 8.6.0
< 8.19.9
|
8.19.9
|
|
github.com/elastic/beats
|
Go |
≥ 9.0.0
< 9.1.9
|
9.1.9
|
|
github.com/elastic/beats
|
Go |
≥ 9.2.0
< 9.2.3
|
9.2.3
|
|
github.com/elastic/beats/v7
|
Go |
< 7.0.0-alpha2.0.20251209162832-28cfc80d2f4e
|
7.0.0-alpha2.0.20251209162832-28cfc80d2f4e
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-68388?
Which Github.com/elastic/beats versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2025-68388?
Is github.com/elastic/beats affected?
Is github.com/elastic/beats/v7 affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-68388?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-68388?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-68388?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-fj69-23m4-ccvv",
"modified" : "2025-12-20T17:30:15Z",
"published" : "2025-12-19T00:31:42Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-68388" ],
"summary" : "Elasticsearch Packetbeat has Excessive Allocation of Memory and CPU via Malicious IPv4 Fragments",
"details" : "Allocation of resources without limits or throttling (CWE-770) allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause excessive allocation (CAPEC-130) of memory and CPU via the integration of malicious IPv4 fragments, leading to denial-of-service in Packetbeat.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/elastic/beats"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "8.6.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "8.19.9"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/elastic/beats"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "9.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "9.1.9"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/elastic/beats"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "9.2.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "9.2.3"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/elastic/beats/v7"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.0.0-alpha2.0.20251209162832-28cfc80d2f4e"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68388"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/elastic/beats/commit/28cfc80d2f4e80bfd1c72eb3f849d777751ab870"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://discuss.elastic.co/t/packetbeat-8-19-9-9-1-9-and-9-2-3-security-update-esa-2025-29/384177"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/elastic/beats"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-770" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2025-12-20T17:30:15Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2025-12-18T22:16:02Z"
}
}