CVE-2025-68385 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 that affects Elastic Kibana versions 7.0.0 through 9.2.0. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within a method in the Vega visualization plugin. This flaw allows an authenticated user to embed malicious JavaScript code into Kibana content, which is then served to other users' web browsers. The vulnerability bypasses previous XSS mitigations implemented in Vega, indicating a regression or incomplete fix. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 indicates a high severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, and a scope change, meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact includes limited confidentiality and integrity loss, as malicious scripts can steal session tokens, manipulate displayed data, or perform actions on behalf of other users. Availability is not impacted. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk. Kibana is widely used in enterprise environments for data visualization and monitoring, often integrated with Elasticsearch clusters that store sensitive operational data. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could compromise user sessions and potentially pivot to further attacks within the network. The Vega plugin is commonly used for advanced visualizations, making this vector relevant for many Kibana deployments. The vulnerability was published on December 18, 2025, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that organizations must monitor Elastic's advisories closely. Given the authenticated requirement, attackers must have some level of access, but no additional user interaction is needed to exploit the vulnerability once authenticated. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure input handling in web applications, especially those serving dynamic content to multiple users.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68385 is significant due to the widespread use of Elastic Kibana in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure monitoring. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information through session hijacking or data manipulation, undermining trust in monitoring dashboards and potentially causing erroneous operational decisions. The integrity of visualized data could be compromised, affecting incident response and business intelligence. Since Kibana is often accessible via internal networks or VPNs, attackers with authenticated access could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or move laterally within networks. The lack of user interaction required increases the risk of automated exploitation in compromised environments. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect effects of data manipulation and confidentiality breaches could disrupt business operations and regulatory compliance, especially under GDPR and other European data protection laws. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score and scope change indicate that the vulnerability could have broad consequences if weaponized.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic patching advice. First, monitor Elastic's official channels for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-68385 and apply them promptly once available. Until patches are released, restrict access to Kibana interfaces to trusted users and networks, employing network segmentation and zero-trust principles. Enforce strict authentication and authorization controls to limit the number of users with access to Vega visualizations. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the risk of script injection exploitation. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on any custom plugins or extensions interacting with Vega or Kibana visualizations. Regularly audit Kibana usage logs for suspicious activity indicative of attempted XSS exploitation. Consider disabling or limiting the use of Vega visualizations if they are not essential, reducing the attack surface. Educate users about the risks of XSS and encourage reporting of unusual dashboard behavior. Finally, integrate Kibana monitoring into broader security information and event management (SIEM) systems to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts swiftly.