Overview
CVE-2025-12149 describes a security vulnerability in Search Guard FLX versions 3.1.2 and earlier. This vulnerability allows for a Document-Level Security (DLS) bypass when searches are triggered from Signal’s watch functionality. While DLS is correctly enforced in other scenarios, queries initiated through Signal watches circumvent the DLS rules, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the way Search Guard FLX handles security contexts when a search is initiated from a Signal watch. Specifically, the DLS rules, designed to filter documents based on user roles and permissions, are not properly applied to searches originating from this feature. This means that regardless of the configured DLS rules, the search query will return all documents within the queried indices, effectively bypassing the intended security restrictions.
CVSS Analysis
As of the published date of this article, a CVSS score is not available (N/A) for CVE-2025-12149. However, given the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data, organizations should treat this vulnerability with seriousness. The lack of a CVSS score doesn’t diminish the potential risk this vulnerability poses.
Possible Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-12149 can be significant, especially for organizations storing sensitive information within Elasticsearch indices. A successful exploit of this vulnerability could lead to:
- Data Breach: Unauthorized access to confidential documents that should be restricted based on user roles.
- Compliance Violations: Failure to comply with data privacy regulations due to unauthorized access to protected data.
- Reputational Damage: Loss of trust from customers and stakeholders due to a security breach.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to upgrade to a patched version of Search Guard FLX. According to the official documentation:
- Upgrade to Search Guard FLX version 3.1.3 or later.
- Upgrade to Search Guard FLX version 4.0.0 or later.
It’s also highly recommended to carefully review the Search Guard FLX changelog to ensure that the patched version adequately addresses the specific security concerns in your environment. After upgrading, thoroughly test all search functionalities, including those triggered via Signal watches, to verify that DLS is being correctly enforced.
