CVE-2026-76260 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, a user that holds a role with the rest_properties_get capability could read encrypted stored credentials through the Representational State Transfer (REST) API. Successful exploitation can expose relevant data protected by the stored credentials. The incorrect permission assignment is possible because the properties REST endpoint requires the rest_properties_get capability instead of the list_storage_passwords capability to read stored credentials. For more information see Define roles on the Splunk platform with capabilities (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/manage-users-and-security/10.4/manage-splunk-platform-users-and-roles/define-roles-on-the-splunk-platform-with-capabilities) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
A critical information disclosure vulnerability exists within Splunk Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, stemming from an incorrect permission assignment in the platform's access control logic. The flaw resides specifically in the Representational State Transfer (REST) API endpoint responsible for retrieving properties, which improperly grants read access to encrypted stored credentials based on a capability that is intended for less sensitive operations. Specifically, users possessing the rest_properties_get capability are able to query and retrieve data from endpoints designed to store authentication secrets, such as passwords used by Splunk apps or scripts to connect to external systems. This misconfiguration allows any user with this specific role permission to bypass stricter security controls that should restrict access to credential storage mechanisms, leading directly to the exposure of sensitive information protected by these stored credentials.
The technical root cause is a deficiency in the granularity of capability definitions within Splunk's role-based access control model. The properties REST endpoint was configured to check for the rest_properties_get capability rather than requiring list_storage_passwords or a similarly restrictive permission set that governs direct interaction with credential stores. In enterprise security architectures, capabilities are designed to map specific actions to user roles, and this error represents a failure in principle of least privilege enforcement. By allowing broader access through rest_properties_get, the system inadvertently exposes internal state data that should remain isolated from general property retrieval operations. This architectural flaw means that attackers or malicious insiders with lower-level administrative rights can escalate their effective privileges regarding sensitive configuration data without needing full administrator status or specific credential management permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Splunk Enterprise to manage security information and event monitoring workflows, as stored credentials are frequently used to authenticate connections to databases, cloud services, APIs, and other critical infrastructure components. Successful exploitation enables an attacker to extract these encrypted secrets from the system's configuration files or database backend via API calls. Although the data is encrypted at rest within Splunk, the extraction of the ciphertext combined with potential access to encryption keys or subsequent decryption efforts can lead to a complete compromise of downstream systems that trust those credentials. This exposure facilitates further lateral movement, unauthorized data exfiltration from connected services, and potentially full system takeover if the compromised credentials hold high-privilege accounts in external environments.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control, as it involves a failure to enforce proper restrictions on authorized users accessing specific resources. Furthermore, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1530 Data from Cloud Storage Object or more generally data exfiltration techniques where an attacker retrieves sensitive configuration files and secrets from the target environment. The exploitation path typically involves authenticated API interaction, placing it within the context of initial access or privilege escalation depending on the user's starting role level. Organizations must treat this as a high-severity issue requiring immediate remediation to prevent unauthorized disclosure of authentication material that underpins their security monitoring infrastructure.
To mitigate this risk, administrators should immediately upgrade Splunk Enterprise to version 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, or 9.4.14 and later, where the permission checks for credential-related endpoints have been corrected to require appropriate capabilities such as list_storage_passwords rather than rest_properties_get. In addition to patching, it is advisable to audit existing user roles and capabilities within the Splunk environment to identify any users who possess the rest_properties_get capability but do not need access to sensitive configuration data. Implementing strict role segregation ensures that only authorized security administrators can interact with credential storage endpoints. Regular review of API usage logs should also be conducted to detect any anomalous retrieval patterns associated with stored credentials, providing an additional layer of defense against potential exploitation attempts while the patch is being deployed across the infrastructure.