---
title: "NET-DB-007 Elasticsearch Security and Network Binding"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-007.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-007.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# NET-DB-007 Elasticsearch Security and Network Binding

Elasticsearch security is disabled or network.host is broadly reachable.

- Domain: Network
- Severity: Critical
- Control category: Data Services
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- CIS Controls v8: 3.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.AA-05, PR.DS-01
- CWE: CWE-306, CWE-1188
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A05:2021
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-3, CM-6, SC-7
- Benchmark topic: Secure data service configuration (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

An exposed Elasticsearch cluster without authentication can disclose, alter, or delete indexed data.

## How It Detects

Parses elasticsearch.yml for xpack.security.enabled and network.host.

## How to Fix

Set xpack.security.enabled true, bind network.host to loopback or an approved private interface, require TLS, and filter access.

## How to Verify

```
Use the local node configuration API with approved credentials and confirm port 9200 is not broadly exposed.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P3 Network Exposure and Firewalls](https://openvapt.com/academy/p3.md)
- [P8 Data Services: Databases, File Shares, DNS and Mail](https://openvapt.com/academy/p8.md)

## References

- [Elastic Security Minimal Setup](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/security/set-up-minimal-security)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/network/data_services.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only NET-DB-007`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain NET-DB-007`.

---

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