CVE-2026-76317 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 who does not hold the "admin" or "power" Splunk roles could move files that the user account running Splunk Enterprise can read into a lookup that the user controls. The user could then access all relevant data and affect system integrity and availability on the search head. The vulnerability is possible because the lookup configuration endpoint does not resolve lookup source paths before checking whether they stay inside the allowed lookup staging area. For more information see About lookups (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/manage-knowledge-objects/knowledge-management-manual/10.4/use-lookups-in-splunk-web/about-lookups) and 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 path traversal vulnerability exists within the lookup configuration endpoint of Splunk Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14. This flaw allows users lacking administrative or power roles to bypass intended access controls by manipulating file paths associated with lookups. The vulnerability stems from a failure in the application logic to properly resolve and validate lookup source paths against an allowed staging area before performing authorization checks. Consequently, authenticated users who would otherwise be restricted from accessing sensitive data can exploit this misconfiguration to move files that the Splunk service account has read permissions into a controlled lookup structure. This architectural oversight effectively neutralizes role-based access control mechanisms designed to isolate user capabilities and protect system integrity.
The technical root cause lies in the sequence of operations performed by the endpoint handling lookup configurations. Instead of first canonicalizing or resolving the absolute path of the source file to ensure it resides within the designated secure directory, the application checks if the provided relative or raw path string falls within allowed boundaries. This logic gap permits attackers to use directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash patterns to escape the staging area and reference arbitrary files on the underlying operating system that are readable by the Splunk process user account. By leveraging this capability, an attacker can read sensitive configuration files, internal logs, or other data assets stored in directories outside the intended sandboxed environment for lookups.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it compromises both confidentiality and integrity on the search head component of a Splunk deployment. An exploited instance allows unauthorized users to exfiltrate critical information that should be protected by role-based permissions, potentially revealing internal network topology, user credentials embedded in configurations, or proprietary data processed by the platform. Furthermore, because lookups are integral to search operations, an attacker could manipulate these files to alter search results, inject malicious logic into searches, or cause denial of service conditions by introducing malformed data structures that crash processing threads. This undermines trust in the analytics and security monitoring capabilities provided by Splunk Enterprise.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-22 Path Traversal: '..' Sequence, reflecting a failure to enforce proper authorization checks on file system resources due to insufficient path validation. In terms of adversary behavior, this technique corresponds to ATT&CK tactic TA0001 Initial Access or TA0006 Credential Access depending on the specific data targeted, and specifically maps to techniques involving local file access through application logic flaws rather than direct operating system exploitation. The attack vector is typically remote if Splunk Web is exposed, requiring only valid authentication credentials for a low-privilege account, which makes it particularly dangerous in environments where least privilege principles are not strictly enforced or monitored.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately upgrade to Splunk Enterprise version 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, or 9.4.14, which contain patches addressing the path resolution logic in the lookup configuration endpoint. Until patching is complete, administrators should restrict network access to the Splunk Web interface using firewalls and ensure that only trusted IP addresses can reach the service. Additionally, reviewing user roles and capabilities is essential; organizations should audit accounts with write permissions for lookups and remove unnecessary privileges from users who do not require such access. Implementing strict input validation on all file path parameters at the application layer serves as a compensating control to prevent directory traversal attempts even if similar vulnerabilities exist in other components of the platform.