CVE-2026-76359 in SOAR
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
In Splunk SOAR versions below 8.6.0, a user who holds the Administrator role could use path traversal in the Universal Forwarder installer's archive extraction to write files outside the intended installation directory. The vulnerability is possible because the Universal Forwarder credentials-package extraction workflow does not verify that each archive member remains within the intended destination before extraction. For more information see Manage roles and permissions in Splunk SOAR (On-premises) (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-soar/soar-on-premises/administer-soar-on-premises/8.5.0/manage-your-splunk-soar-on-premises-users-and-accounts/manage-roles-and-permissions-in-splunk-soar-on-premises) and Configure forwarders to send SOAR data to your Splunk deployment (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-soar/soar-on-premises/administer-soar-on-premises/8.5.0/configure-administration-settings-in-splunk-soar-on-premises/configure-forwarders-to-send-soar-data-to-your-splunk-deployment) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
A critical security vulnerability exists within Splunk SOAR versions prior to 8.6.0, specifically affecting the Universal Forwarder installer's archive extraction mechanism. This flaw allows an authenticated user possessing the Administrator role to perform a path traversal attack by manipulating file paths contained within archives intended for credential package installation. The core technical deficiency lies in the absence of rigorous validation checks during the extraction process. When the system processes the archive, it fails to verify that each individual member or file remains strictly within the designated destination directory boundaries before writing them to disk. This lack of boundary enforcement enables an attacker to construct malicious archives containing files with relative paths such as dot-dot-slash sequences, which direct the extraction utility to write data outside the intended installation scope and into arbitrary locations on the underlying operating system filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the high privilege level required for exploitation. Since only users with Administrator privileges can trigger this code path during the credential package configuration process, the threat actor must already have substantial control over the Splunk SOAR environment. However, once exploited, the ability to write files outside the installation directory effectively allows for arbitrary file writes on the host system. This capability can be leveraged to overwrite critical system binaries, inject malicious scripts into startup directories, or place web shells in accessible locations, thereby facilitating full system compromise. The attacker could potentially escalate privileges further by manipulating configuration files that are read with higher system permissions during service initialization, leading to remote code execution and complete loss of integrity for the security orchestration platform.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes flaws where software does not properly neutralize special elements within file paths that can cause files to be located outside of the intended directory. Additionally, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this technique relates to T1564: Hidden Files and Directories or more broadly to T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter if used for execution, as it allows an insider threat or compromised administrator account to persist malicious artifacts on the system. The vulnerability highlights a common oversight in enterprise software where administrative convenience is prioritized over strict input validation during file handling operations.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running Splunk SOAR versions below 8.6.0 must immediately upgrade to version 8.6.0 or later, which includes patches that enforce proper path canonicalization and boundary checks during archive extraction. Until the patch is applied, administrators should strictly limit who holds the Administrator role within the platform, adhering to the principle of least privilege by granting elevated access only to essential personnel. Furthermore, monitoring system logs for unusual file creation events outside standard installation directories can help detect potential exploitation attempts. It is also advisable to review and restrict the ability to upload or configure credential packages if possible, reducing the attack surface available to privileged users who might be compromised through other vectors such as phishing or session hijacking.