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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-37937 · published 22 November 2023

CVE-2021-37937: Elasticsearch improper privilege management vulnerability

Elastic · Elasticsearch

An issue was found with how API keys are created with the Fleet-Server service account. When an API key is created with a service account, it is possible that the API key could be created with higher privileges than intended. Using this vulnerability, a compromised Fleet-Server service account could escalate themselves to a super-user.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.71% · top 48.2% CWE-269 · Improper privilege management
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score
0.71%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

An issue was found with how API keys are created with the Fleet-Server service account. When an API key is created with a service account, it is possible that the API key could be created with higher privileges than intended. Using this vulnerability, a compromised Fleet-Server service account could escalate themselves to a super-user.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-7-14-1-security-update/283077 Vendor Advisory
https://www.elastic.co/community/security Vendor Advisory
https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-7-14-1-security-update/283077 Vendor Advisory
https://www.elastic.co/community/security Vendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-37937), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.