CVE-2025-68381: Improper Bounds Check (CWE-787) in Packetbeat can allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to exploit a Buffer

Routine

MEDIUM 6.5UPGRADE

CVE-2025-68381 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting packetbeat. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Improper Bounds Check (CWE-787) in Packetbeat can allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to exploit a Buffer Overflow (CAPEC-100) and reliably crash the application or cause significant resource exhaustion via a single crafted UDP packet with an invalid fragment sequence number.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Adjacent network
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 60%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2025-12-18
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Elastic · Vendor: elasticsearch

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2025-12-18 22:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 09:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

elasticsearch packetbeat UPGRADE

Affected: >= 7.0.0 and <= 7.17.29 · >= 8.0.0 and < 8.19.9 · >= 9.0.0 and < 9.1.9 · >= 9.2.0 and < 9.2.3

Fixed in: 8.19.9, 9.1.9, 9.2.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy packetbeat || rpm -q packetbeat || packetbeat --version

2. UPGRADE to 8.19.9 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade packetbeat

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade packetbeat

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 7.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison packetbeat sudo apt install packetbeat=<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold packetbeat

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list packetbeat sudo dnf downgrade packetbeat-<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add packetbeat

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2025-68381?

packetbeat: upgrade to 8.19.9, 9.1.9, 9.2.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2025-68381 being exploited?

CVE-2025-68381 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2025-68381 affect?

CVE-2025-68381 affects packetbeat. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). Improper Bounds Check (CWE-787) in Packetbeat can allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to exploit a Buffer Overflow (CAPEC-100) and reliably crash the application or cause significant resource exhaustion via a single crafted UDP packet w

How urgent is CVE-2025-68381?

Priority 33/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

Elasticsearch vulnerabilities

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References

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