CVE-2024-36992 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 and 9.1.2308.207, a low-privileged user that does not hold the admin or power Splunk roles could craft a malicious payload through a View that could result in execution of unauthorized JavaScript code in the browser of a user. The “url” parameter of the Dashboard element does not have proper input validation to reject invalid URLs, which could lead to a Persistent Cross-site Scripting (XSS) exploit.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
This vulnerability exists within Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform installations where insufficient input validation allows malicious payloads to be executed through crafted dashboard elements. The flaw specifically affects systems running versions prior to the mentioned secure releases, creating a persistent cross-site scripting attack vector that can be exploited by users without administrative privileges. The vulnerability stems from the improper validation of the url parameter within Dashboard elements, which fails to properly sanitize or reject malformed URLs that could contain malicious JavaScript code. This represents a significant security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate input sanitization practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows a low-privileged user to construct a malicious View that when rendered in a dashboard context can execute unauthorized JavaScript code within the browser of any user who accesses the affected dashboard. This persistent XSS vulnerability operates through the dashboard element's url parameter, which lacks proper validation mechanisms to detect and reject potentially harmful input sequences. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing with Social Engineering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to create persistent attack vectors within the Splunk environment. An attacker with access to create or modify dashboards could craft malicious payloads that remain active until the dashboard is modified or deleted, providing extended periods of potential exploitation. The vulnerability affects users across all privilege levels who view the malicious dashboard, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users access shared dashboards. Organizations running affected versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data, and possible escalation of privileges through session manipulation. The persistent nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious code continues to execute whenever the vulnerable dashboard is accessed, creating ongoing security risks that can be difficult to detect and remediate.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Splunk installations to versions 9.2.2, 9.1.5, 9.0.10, 9.1.2312.200, or 9.1.2308.207 as appropriate for the specific deployment. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting dashboard creation privileges to only trusted administrators, implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious URL patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of dashboard configurations. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should monitor for any unusual dashboard modifications and implement automated scanning tools to detect potentially malicious dashboard elements. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation and output encoding practices that should be implemented across all web applications to prevent similar cross-site scripting scenarios. Regular security training for administrators about dashboard security configurations and the risks associated with untrusted content injection is essential for maintaining overall security posture.