CVE-2024-36987 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2024
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 9.2.2, 9.1.5, and 9.0.10 and Splunk Cloud Platform versions below 9.1.2312.200, an authenticated, low-privileged user who does not hold the admin or power Splunk roles could upload a file with an arbitrary extension using the indexing/preview REST endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36987 represents a critical authorization bypass issue within Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform systems. This flaw affects multiple version ranges including Splunk Enterprise versions prior to 9.2.2, 9.1.5, and 9.0.10, alongside Splunk Cloud Platform versions below 9.1.2312.200. The security weakness stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the indexing/preview REST endpoint that governs file upload operations within the platform. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the privilege escalation vector to upload arbitrary file types without proper authorization, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data within Splunk environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the indexing/preview REST endpoint which is designed to handle file processing and preview functionality within Splunk's data ingestion pipeline. An authenticated user lacking administrative or power roles can manipulate the upload process to bypass standard file extension validation controls. This misconfiguration allows for the upload of malicious payloads including scripts, executables, or other potentially harmful file types that could be processed by Splunk's indexing mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization controls that should prevent low-privileged users from performing operations typically restricted to administrators or power users, creating a significant security gap in Splunk's access control model. The flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and represents a clear violation of security design principles that should prevent unauthorized file operations within enterprise monitoring platforms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-36987 extends beyond simple file upload capabilities and could enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within Splunk environments. Low-privileged users who exploit this vulnerability could potentially upload malicious files that would be processed by Splunk's indexing pipeline, creating opportunities for code execution, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the platform. The implications are particularly severe given that Splunk environments often contain sensitive operational data, security logs, and business-critical information that could be targeted by adversaries. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Splunk product versions and platforms indicates a systemic issue that requires immediate attention from security administrators. Organizations utilizing Splunk for security monitoring and log analysis face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations due to the potential for unauthorized file processing and execution within their monitoring infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform versions affected by CVE-2024-36987 to address this authorization bypass vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include verifying that the indexing/preview REST endpoint properly enforces authorization controls and implements strict file extension validation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement monitoring controls around file upload activities within Splunk environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed and strengthened to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, while also implementing continuous monitoring for unauthorized file upload activities that could indicate compromise of Splunk environments.