diff --git a/scripts/modules/elastic_stack.py b/scripts/modules/elastic_stack.py
index c3f5217b1..bf0ef8986 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/elastic_stack.py
+++ b/scripts/modules/elastic_stack.py
@@ -460,6 +460,9 @@ def _content(self):
             cap_drop=["ALL"],
             command=command,
             depends_on=self.depends_on,
+            environment=[
+                "BEATS_STRICT_PERM=false"  # Workaround https://github.com/elastic/beats/issues/18858
+            ],
             healthcheck=curl_healthcheck(self.SERVICE_PORT, path=healthcheck_path),
             labels=["co.elastic.apm.stack-version=" + self.version],
             ports=ports
diff --git a/scripts/tests/localsetup_tests.py b/scripts/tests/localsetup_tests.py
index bb5c92248..33a87fe6e 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/localsetup_tests.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/localsetup_tests.py
@@ -688,6 +688,9 @@ def test_start_6_2_default(self):
                 depends_on:
                     elasticsearch: {condition: service_healthy}
                     kibana: {condition: service_healthy}
+                environment: [
+                    BEATS_STRICT_PERM=false
+                ]
                 healthcheck:
                     interval: 10s
                     retries: 12
@@ -766,6 +769,9 @@ def test_start_6_3_default(self):
                 depends_on:
                     elasticsearch: {condition: service_healthy}
                     kibana: {condition: service_healthy}
+                environment: [
+                    BEATS_STRICT_PERM=false
+                ]
                 healthcheck:
                     interval: 10s
                     retries: 12
@@ -867,6 +873,9 @@ def test_start_master_default(self):
                 depends_on:
                     elasticsearch: {condition: service_healthy}
                     kibana: {condition: service_healthy}
+                environment: [
+                    BEATS_STRICT_PERM=false
+                ]
                 healthcheck:
                     interval: 10s
                     retries: 12