CVE-2026-76362 in SOAR
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
In Splunk SOAR versions below 8.6.0, an unauthenticated user who can observe or alter network traffic between Splunk SOAR and a configured CyberArk Representational State Transfer (REST) server could access or modify all relevant data exchanged through that credential manager. The vulnerability is possible because the CyberArk REST client does not verify server certificates by default. The attack requires the attacker to have network-path interception capability between Splunk SOAR and the configured CyberArk REST server. For more information see Manage your organization's credentials with a password vault (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-soar/soar-cloud/administer-soar-cloud/configure-administration-settings-in-splunk-soar-cloud/manage-your-organizations-credentials-with-a-password-vault) in the Splunk documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The vulnerability identified in Splunk SOAR versions prior to 8.6.0 represents a critical failure in transport layer security validation, specifically concerning the integration with CyberArk password vaults via REST APIs. This flaw stems from the default configuration of the CyberArk REST client within the Splunk SOAR platform, which does not enforce server certificate verification during the establishment of secure connections. In standard Secure Sockets Layer or Transport Layer Security implementations, mutual authentication and strict certificate validation are essential to ensure that a client is communicating with the intended legitimate server rather than an imposter. By omitting this check by default, Splunk SOAR inadvertently allows for man-in-the-middle scenarios where the integrity of the encrypted channel cannot be guaranteed, even if encryption itself is technically present in transit.
From a technical perspective, the absence of certificate verification means that any entity capable of intercepting network traffic between the Splunk SOAR instance and the CyberArk REST server can manipulate the communication stream without triggering security alerts or connection failures typical of invalid certificates. An attacker with such network-path interception capabilities, often referred to as a man-in-the-middle position, can perform active attacks against this unauthenticated endpoint. This includes eavesdropping on sensitive credential data being transmitted for automation purposes and potentially injecting malicious commands or altering the responses received from the password vault. The severity of this issue is amplified by the nature of Splunk SOAR itself; as a Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response platform, it holds elevated privileges and access to critical organizational secrets, making any compromise of its credential management interface particularly dangerous.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage. If an attacker successfully intercepts and alters the traffic, they can exfiltrate high-value credentials such as administrative passwords, API keys, or service account tokens stored in CyberArk. Furthermore, by modifying the responses from the CyberArk REST server, an attacker could potentially inject false information into Splunk SOAR playbooks that rely on these credentials for automated actions. This could lead to unauthorized access to other systems within the organization's infrastructure, as the compromised automation might execute tasks using stolen or manipulated privileges. The risk is significant because it undermines the foundational trust model of secure API communications, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely by exploiting the lack of server identity verification.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which describes Improper Certificate Validation, a common flaw in applications that fail to properly validate X.509 certificates or their chain of trust during TLS connections. Additionally, from an offensive security perspective, this scenario maps directly to MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) techniques documented under the ATT&CK framework, specifically within tactics related to Credential Access and Defense Evasion. Attackers often leverage such misconfigurations in enterprise environments where automated systems communicate over internal networks that may not be fully segmented or monitored for lateral movement threats. The ability to observe and alter traffic implies a compromise of network integrity, which is a precursor to more advanced persistent threat activities within the organization's security operations center environment.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running Splunk SOAR versions below 8.6.0 must upgrade immediately to version 8.6.0 or later, where the default behavior has been corrected to enforce strict server certificate verification. Until an upgrade is feasible, administrators should implement network-level controls such as mutual TLS authentication if supported by their CyberArk deployment, ensuring that only clients with valid certificates can connect and vice versa. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of inspecting encrypted traffic for anomalies or enforcing certificate pinning at the application level can provide a layer of defense against man-in-the-middle attacks. It is also critical to review network segmentation policies to ensure that Splunk SOAR instances are isolated from untrusted networks where interception might occur more easily. Regular audits of integration configurations and adherence to secure coding practices for API clients remain essential components of maintaining the integrity of automated security operations.