CVE-2015-1427
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitImproper Access Control in Elasticsearch
Published May 14, 2022 · Updated Oct 22, 2025 · Also known as GHSA-w94p-6mhw-4qxw, UBUNTU-CVE-2015-1427
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2015-1427 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Elasticsearch, Fuse (Redhat), org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch (maven).
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 9, 2019 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 100% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Elasticsearch 1.3.8, org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch 1.3.8, org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch 1.4.3.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
100%
Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings, used by ransomware
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2015-1427 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
The Groovy scripting engine in Elasticsearch before 1.3.8 and 1.4.x before 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to bypass the sandbox protection mechanism and execute arbitrary shell commands via a crafted script.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Mar 25, 2022 | Apr 15, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Apr 9, 2019 | Apr 15, 2022 | Known |
| CIRCL KEV | Mar 25, 2022 | Apr 15, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Mar 25, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
3 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ElasticsearchElastic | See advisory | 1.3.8 |
| FuseRedhat | 1.0.0 | n/a |
| org.elasticsearch:elasticsearchmaven | See advisory | 1.4.3 |
Patched Releases
Elasticsearch
1.3.8
org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch
1.3.8, 1.4.3
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Apr 9, 2019
Added to CISA KEV
Mar 25, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Mar 25, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Mar 25, 2022
Publicly disclosed
May 14, 2022
Last updated
Oct 22, 2025
Weakness Type
- CWE-284 Improper Access Control
References
- advisoryhttp://seclists.org/bugtraq/2015/Feb/92
- advisoryGHSA advisory
- advisoryhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1427
- advisoryhttps://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-1427
- advisoryhttps://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
FAQ
Common Questions.
The Groovy scripting engine in Elasticsearch before 1.3.8 and 1.4.x before 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to bypass the sandbox protection mechanism and execute arbitrary shell commands via a crafted script.
Affected: Elasticsearch; Fuse (Redhat) versions 1.0.0; org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch (maven). The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 9, 2019 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Yes. It was added on Mar 25, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Apr 15, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Elasticsearch 1.3.8, org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch 1.3.8, org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch 1.4.3.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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