CVE-2026-76291 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2026
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.4, 10.2.8, 10.0.11, and 9.4.16, a user that holds a role with the schedule_search capability could bypass the expected safeguards in the scheduled search workflow. The user could then run risky Search Processing Language (SPL) commands that disclose or alter Splunk Enterprise data or disrupt Splunk Enterprise availability. The vulnerability is possible because the Splunk Enterprise search scheduler does not apply SPL safeguards for risky commands to scheduled searches. For more information see SPL safeguards for risky commands (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/manage-users-and-security/10.6/best-practices-for-splunk-platform-security/spl-safeguards-for-risky-commands) in the Splunk documentation. For more information see authorize.conf (https://help.splunk.com/en/data-management/splunk-enterprise-admin-manual/10.6/configuration-file-reference/10.6.0-configuration-file-reference/authorize.conf) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
A critical security vulnerability exists within Splunk Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.4, 10.2.8, 10.0.11, and 9.4.16, specifically affecting the scheduled search workflow mechanism. The core issue stems from a failure in access control logic where the system does not enforce Search Processing Language safeguards for risky commands when searches are executed via the scheduler rather than interactively by an administrator. This architectural oversight allows any user possessing a role with the schedule_search capability to bypass expected security controls, effectively elevating their privileges beyond what is intended for that specific permission set. The vulnerability highlights a significant gap in how Splunk differentiates between interactive search execution and automated scheduled tasks regarding command restrictions.
The technical flaw lies in the separation of privilege enforcement mechanisms within the Splunk platform. While interactive searches are subject to strict filtering of dangerous Search Processing Language commands, the scheduler component fails to apply these same safeguards during background job execution. This discrepancy enables an authenticated attacker with schedule_search permissions to craft and submit scheduled jobs containing high-risk SPL commands that would otherwise be blocked in a direct search context. These risky commands can include operations capable of reading sensitive data from disk or network sockets, executing external system processes, or manipulating the underlying file system structure. By exploiting this gap, the attacker circumvents the administrative intent behind restricting such capabilities to only those users with full admin privileges who have been explicitly trusted with broader operational risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing data confidentiality loss, integrity compromise, and availability disruption. An adversary leveraging this flaw can extract sensitive information stored within Splunk indexes or associated external systems by using commands that allow file reading or network communication. Furthermore, the ability to execute arbitrary system-level operations means an attacker could modify configuration files, delete critical data, or introduce malicious logic into scheduled jobs for persistent access. In terms of availability, the execution of resource-intensive or destructive commands can lead to service degradation or complete outage of the Splunk Enterprise instance, impacting all users relying on the platform for security monitoring and log analysis. This represents a classic case where insufficient validation of input in automated workflows leads to privilege escalation and system compromise.
From an industry standard perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, as it involves a user obtaining capabilities beyond their assigned role due to flawed access control logic. It also relates closely to CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, given that the scheduled search mechanism fails to restrict dangerous resources appropriately. In terms of attack vectors and tactics, this flaw facilitates techniques described in MITRE ATT&CK under Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse, specifically allowing adversaries to execute commands via system APIs or shell access through the Splunk interface. It also touches upon Defense Evasion by bypassing configured security safeguards that are meant to limit user actions within the application environment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and configuration hardening. Organizations running affected versions of Splunk Enterprise should upgrade immediately to version 10.4.4, 10.2.8, 10.0.11, or 9.4.16, where the scheduler has been updated to enforce SPL safeguards consistently across both interactive and scheduled search contexts. Until patching is feasible, administrators should rigorously audit user roles to ensure that only highly trusted individuals possess the schedule_search capability. Additionally, reviewing authorize.conf configurations for any custom role definitions can help identify if overly permissive settings have exacerbated this risk. Implementing network segmentation to restrict access to Splunk management interfaces and monitoring scheduled job logs for anomalous command patterns can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts while remediation efforts are underway.