CVE-2026-76322 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 holds the "user" Splunk role could craft a Dashboard Studio dashboard that runs attacker-controlled Search Processing Language (SPL) for another authenticated user. The attacker-controlled SPL could access all relevant data and affect system integrity and availability. The vulnerability is possible because Dashboard Studio does not consistently enforce the expected app-visibility authorization boundary before dashboard search query options reach search dispatch. The vulnerability requires the attacker to phish the affected user by tricking them into initiating a request within their browser. The user who holds the "user" Splunk role should not be able to exploit the vulnerability at will. For more information see Create search-based visualizations with ds.search (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/create-dashboards-and-reports/dashboard-studio/10.4/use-data-sources/create-search-based-visualizations-with-ds.search) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within Splunk Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, specifically affecting the Dashboard Studio component. This security flaw allows a user possessing only the standard "user" role to execute Search Processing Language (SPL) queries that are controlled by an attacker on behalf of other authenticated users. The core technical deficiency lies in the failure of Dashboard Studio to consistently enforce application visibility authorization boundaries before search query options are dispatched for execution. In a properly secured environment, the principle of least privilege dictates that standard user roles should be restricted from performing actions that impact system integrity or access data outside their designated scope. However, due to this enforcement gap, an attacker can craft a malicious Dashboard Studio dashboard containing arbitrary SPL commands. When these queries reach the search dispatch mechanism, they bypass the expected checks that would normally restrict visibility based on app boundaries, effectively allowing the query to run with elevated privileges relative to its originator's intended permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it compromises both data confidentiality and system integrity. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can access all relevant data within the Splunk environment, including sensitive logs, metrics, and events that should be restricted from standard users. This unauthorized data exfiltration poses a severe risk to organizations relying on Splunk for security monitoring and compliance reporting. Furthermore, because the SPL commands are attacker-controlled, there is potential for malicious actions beyond mere data access, such as disrupting system availability or altering configurations if the underlying search infrastructure permits write operations through these queries. The ability to run arbitrary code under another user's context undermines the fundamental trust model of multi-tenant Splunk deployments and can lead to widespread compromise if not addressed promptly.
Exploitation of this vulnerability requires a specific social engineering vector, as it is not an automated remote exploit that can be triggered blindly by any network observer. The attacker must first phish the target user, tricking them into initiating a request within their browser while authenticated in Splunk Enterprise. This interaction typically involves directing the victim to open or interact with a malicious dashboard crafted by the adversary. Once the victim's session is used to load this dashboard, the flawed authorization logic allows the embedded SPL commands to execute against data that would normally be inaccessible to the "user" role. The requirement for user interaction means that while the technical flaw is severe, it relies on successful phishing campaigns or insider threats to achieve initial access and trigger the exploit chain.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running affected versions of Splunk Enterprise must upgrade immediately to version 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, or 9.4.14, where these authorization boundary checks have been corrected. Until the patch is applied, administrators should enforce strict access controls on Dashboard Studio features and limit who can create or edit dashboards that utilize search-based visualizations. Additionally, implementing robust phishing awareness training for all users with Splunk access can reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks that trigger this vulnerability. Monitoring logs for unusual SPL query patterns originating from standard user accounts may also help in detecting attempted exploitation activities before significant damage occurs. This issue is categorized under CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access, highlighting the critical need for rigorous input validation and authorization enforcement in enterprise security platforms.