Elasticsearch PKI Realm Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Allows User Impersonation Through Crafted Client Certificates (CVE-2025-37731)

Elasticsearch PKI Realm Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Allows User Impersonation Through Crafted Client Certificates (CVE-2025-37731) | HOL Guard CVE

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 6.8. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core (maven), org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core (maven), org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core (maven), org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core (maven) and additional mapped packages. Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=7.0.0-alpha1,<8.19.8	8.19.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=9.0.0-beta1,<9.1.8	9.1.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=9.2.0,<9.2.2	9.2.2
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=7.0.0-alpha1 <8.19.8	8.19.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=9.0.0-beta1 <9.1.8	9.1.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-coremaven	>=9.2.0 <9.2.2	9.2.2
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=7.0.0-alpha1,<8.19.8	8.19.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=9.0.0-beta1,<9.1.8	9.1.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=9.2.0,<9.2.2	9.2.2
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=7.0.0-alpha1 <8.19.8	8.19.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=9.0.0-beta1 <9.1.8	9.1.8
org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-securitymaven	>=9.2.0 <9.2.2	9.2.2

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core, org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core, org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core.
Review the reported fix. Update org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 8.19.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 9.1.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 9.2.2; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 8.19.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 9.1.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-core to 9.2.2; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 8.19.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 9.1.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 9.2.2; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 8.19.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 9.1.8; org.elasticsearch.plugin:x-pack-security to 9.2.2 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Dec 15, 2025
Evidence: source:ghsa:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:ghsa:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 25, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source 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.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.