CVE-2026-76311 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, an unauthenticated user who has an embedded report token could download the dispatch archive for an embedded report search job and use exposed session material to access all relevant data and affect system integrity on the Splunk platform instance. The vulnerability is possible because the embedded report authorization flow does not block dispatch archive download requests before Splunk Enterprise begins sending the archive to the requester. For more information see Additional configuration for embedded reports (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/create-dashboards-and-reports/reporting-manual/10.4/report-management/additional-configuration-for-embedded-reports) and Embed scheduled reports (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/create-dashboards-and-reports/reporting-manual/10.4/report-management/embed-scheduled-reports) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The vulnerability identified in specific versions of Splunk Enterprise, including releases prior to 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, represents a critical authorization bypass within the embedded report functionality. This flaw allows an unauthenticated user possessing only an embedded report token to execute actions that should be restricted by proper access control mechanisms. Specifically, the attacker can download the dispatch archive associated with an embedded report search job. The root cause of this issue lies in the sequence of operations during the authorization flow for embedded reports; the system fails to validate and block requests for downloading the dispatch archive before initiating the transmission of data to the requester. This timing error effectively circumvents the intended security boundaries, allowing access to sensitive operational artifacts that contain exposed session material.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and more specifically aligns with CWE-732 in contexts where permission requirements are not enforced prior to resource exposure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes the exploitation of such flaws under T1530, Data from Cloud Storage Object or Container, as the attacker retrieves data archives that contain information about search jobs and their results. By leveraging the exposed session material found within these dispatch archives, an adversary can authenticate as other users or escalate privileges to access all relevant data stored on the Splunk platform instance. This capability fundamentally undermines the integrity of the security monitoring environment, as Splunk instances often aggregate critical log data from across an organization's infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the central role Splunk plays in enterprise security operations and IT management. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can achieve unauthorized access to sensitive logs, potentially including personally identifiable information, financial records, or proprietary system configurations depending on what the monitored environment tracks. Beyond data exfiltration, the ability to affect system integrity implies that an adversary could manipulate search results or inject false telemetry, thereby obscuring malicious activities and degrading the reliability of security alerts. This compromises the trustworthiness of the entire SIEM platform, making it difficult for security teams to detect actual threats amidst manipulated or stolen data.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading Splunk Enterprise to a patched version that addresses this authorization flow defect. Administrators should ensure they are running versions 10.4.2 and later, 10.2.6 and later, 10.0.9 and later, or 9.4.14 and later, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to properly block dispatch archive download requests before data transmission occurs. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to operational constraints, temporary mitigations may include restricting network access to Splunk management interfaces and ensuring that embedded report tokens are issued with minimal privileges and short expiration times. Additionally, reviewing audit logs for unusual patterns of dispatch archive downloads can help identify potential exploitation attempts in real-time while longer-term remediation plans are executed.