Elasticsearch Security Best Practices for Enterprise

Elasticsearch Security Best Practices for Enterprise

Security is paramount when deploying Elasticsearch in enterprise environments. This comprehensive guide covers essential security practices to protect your data and infrastructure.

Authentication and Authorization

Enable Security Features

First, enable Elasticsearch security features:

# elasticsearch.yml
xpack.security.enabled: true
xpack.security.transport.ssl.enabled: true
xpack.security.http.ssl.enabled: true

User Management

Create role-based access control:

# Create a custom role
curl -X POST "localhost:9200/_security/role/log_reader" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d'
{
  "cluster": ["monitor"],
  "indices": [
    {
      "names": ["logs-*"],
      "privileges": ["read", "view_index_metadata"]
    }
  ]
}'

# Create a user with the role
curl -X POST "localhost:9200/_security/user/john_doe" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d'
{
  "password": "secure_password",
  "roles": ["log_reader"],
  "full_name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john.doe@company.com"
}'

Encryption

Transport Layer Security (TLS)

Configure TLS for node-to-node communication:

# elasticsearch.yml
xpack.security.transport.ssl.enabled: true
xpack.security.transport.ssl.verification_mode: certificate
xpack.security.transport.ssl.keystore.path: elastic-certificates.p12
xpack.security.transport.ssl.truststore.path: elastic-certificates.p12

HTTP SSL/TLS

Secure client connections:

xpack.security.http.ssl.enabled: true
xpack.security.http.ssl.keystore.path: elastic-certificates.p12

Network Security

IP Filtering

Restrict access by IP address:

xpack.security.transport.filter.allow: "192.168.1.0/24"
xpack.security.transport.filter.deny: "_all"
xpack.security.http.filter.allow: "192.168.1.0/24"
xpack.security.http.filter.deny: "_all"

Firewall Configuration

Configure firewalls to:

• Allow only necessary ports (9200 for HTTP, 9300 for transport)
• Restrict access to management interfaces
• Block unnecessary outbound connections

Data Protection

Field-Level Security

Restrict access to sensitive fields:

{
  "cluster": ["monitor"],
  "indices": [
    {
      "names": ["customer_data"],
      "privileges": ["read"],
      "field_security": {
        "grant": ["name", "email", "address"],
        "except": ["ssn", "credit_card"]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Document-Level Security

Filter documents based on user context:

{
  "indices": [
    {
      "names": ["sales_data"],
      "privileges": ["read"],
      "query": {
        "term": {
          "department": "{{_user.metadata.department}}"
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Audit Logging

Enable Audit Logging

Track security events:

xpack.security.audit.enabled: true
xpack.security.audit.outputs: [index, logfile]
xpack.security.audit.logfile.events.include: [
  "access_denied", "access_granted", "anonymous_access_denied",
  "authentication_failed", "connection_denied", "tampered_request",
  "run_as_denied", "run_as_granted"
]

Monitor Audit Events

Set up monitoring for:

• Failed authentication attempts
• Privilege escalation attempts
• Unusual access patterns
• Configuration changes

API Key Management

Create API Keys

Use API keys for application access:

curl -X POST "localhost:9200/_security/api_key" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d'
{
  "name": "my-api-key",
  "expiration": "1d",
  "role_descriptors": {
    "role-a": {
      "cluster": ["monitor"],
      "index": [
        {
          "names": ["index-a*"],
          "privileges": ["read"]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}'

API Key Best Practices

• Use short expiration times
• Implement key rotation
• Monitor API key usage
• Revoke unused keys promptly

Security Monitoring

Key Metrics to Monitor

• Authentication success/failure rates
• Privilege escalation attempts
• Unusual query patterns
• Network connection anomalies
• Resource usage spikes

Alerting Rules

Set up alerts for:

• Multiple failed login attempts
• Access to sensitive indices
• Configuration changes
• Unusual data access patterns

Compliance Considerations

GDPR Compliance

• Implement data anonymization
• Enable data deletion capabilities
• Maintain audit trails
• Ensure data portability

SOC 2 Compliance

• Access controls and monitoring
• Data encryption at rest and in transit
• Incident response procedures
• Regular security assessments

Security Hardening Checklist

Infrastructure Level

• Enable TLS encryption
• Configure proper authentication
• Implement role-based access control
• Set up audit logging
• Configure IP filtering
• Disable unnecessary features

Application Level

• Use API keys for applications
• Implement field-level security
• Configure document-level security
• Validate input data
• Implement rate limiting

Operational Level

• Regular security updates
• Monitor security events
• Conduct security assessments
• Maintain incident response plan
• Train team on security practices

Conclusion

Implementing comprehensive security measures is essential for protecting your Elasticsearch deployment. Regular security assessments and staying updated with the latest security features will help maintain a robust security posture.

Remember that security is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup. Continuously monitor, assess, and improve your security measures to stay ahead of evolving threats.