CVE-2010-2504 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE
Splunk 4.0 through 4.0.10 and 4.1 through 4.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via HTTP header injection, aka SPL-31066.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2504 affects Splunk versions 4.0 through 4.0.10 and 4.1 through 4.1.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to extract sensitive information through HTTP header injection techniques. This vulnerability resides within the web application framework of Splunk's HTTP server implementation, specifically in how it processes and handles HTTP headers during request processing. The issue manifests when authenticated users leverage crafted HTTP headers to inject malicious content that can be interpreted by the application's internal processing mechanisms. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-1107, which specifically addresses HTTP Header Injection flaws that occur when user-supplied input is improperly processed in HTTP headers without adequate sanitization or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP headers that are processed by Splunk's web interface, allowing attackers to inject additional headers or modify existing ones in ways that can reveal internal system information, session data, or other sensitive metadata. The flaw represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability because it enables attackers to access data that should remain confidential within the Splunk environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract configuration details, internal server information, or other sensitive data that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within Splunk's web interface, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or further exploitation of the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2504 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that can compromise the overall security posture of Splunk installations. Organizations using affected versions of Splunk may experience unauthorized access to sensitive log data, system configurations, or user information that could be leveraged for additional attacks. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Splunk is exposed to untrusted networks. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity principles of information security, as it allows for unauthorized data access and potential system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2504 focus on upgrading to patched versions of Splunk where the HTTP header processing has been corrected to properly sanitize and validate all incoming header data. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Splunk web interfaces, particularly ensuring that only trusted administrative networks can reach these services. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for and block suspicious HTTP header patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their Splunk configurations to identify and remove any unnecessary HTTP headers that might be vulnerable to injection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to information disclosure vulnerabilities that compromise system security.