CVE-2023-22935 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 8.1.13, 8.2.10, and 9.0.4, the ‘display.page.search.patterns.sensitivity’ search parameter lets a search bypass [SPL safeguards for risky commands](https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/latest/Security/SPLsafeguards). The vulnerability requires a higher privileged user to initiate a request within their browser and only affects instances with Splunk Web enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22935 represents a significant security flaw within Splunk Enterprise platforms that impacts versions prior to 8.1.13, 8.2.10, and 9.0.4. This issue specifically targets the search parameter 'display.page.search.patterns.sensitivity' which is designed to control how search patterns are displayed within the Splunk Web interface. The flaw allows malicious actors to circumvent built-in SPL safeguards that are intended to prevent execution of potentially dangerous search commands. These safeguards form a critical component of Splunk's security architecture as outlined in the official documentation, serving to protect against command injection and other search-based attacks that could compromise system integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess a higher privileged user account within the Splunk environment, as the attack vector involves initiating requests through the browser interface. This limitation means that the vulnerability cannot be exploited remotely without prior access to valid credentials, but it does represent a privilege escalation risk when combined with existing user access. The attack mechanism leverages the specific search parameter to bypass security controls that would normally prevent execution of dangerous commands, effectively allowing an authenticated user to perform actions that should be restricted. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, specifically relating to insufficient access control mechanisms within the application's search processing capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-22935 extends beyond simple command bypass, as it enables attackers with sufficient privileges to potentially execute unauthorized search operations that could lead to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, or other malicious activities. When combined with other vulnerabilities or through social engineering to gain elevated access, this flaw could significantly compromise the security posture of affected Splunk deployments. Organizations relying on Splunk Enterprise for security monitoring and log analysis face particular risk as this vulnerability could allow attackers to evade detection mechanisms that depend on proper search parameter validation. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing users to perform actions beyond their intended permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Splunk Enterprise installations to versions 8.1.13, 8.2.10, or 9.0.4 where the security flaw has been addressed. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of search activities and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts, while regular security audits should verify that users only have access to necessary search capabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation tactic. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional input validation measures to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities that might exist in the search processing components of Splunk Enterprise.