Splunk Enterprise/Cloud Platform prior 10.5.2605.0 App Installation SPLUNK_HOME path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Splunk Enterprise and Cloud Platform. It has been classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component App Installation. Performing a manipulation of the argument SPLUNK_HOME results in path traversal. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-20297. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Splunk Enterprise and Cloud Platform. This affects an unknown code block of the component App Installation. The manipulation of the argument SPLUNK_HOME with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.1, 10.2.5, 10.0.8, 9.4.13, and 9.3.14, and Splunk Cloud Platform versions below 10.5.2605.0, 10.4.2604.6, 10.2.2510.18, and 10.1.2507.24, a user who holds a role that contains the `edit_local_apps` and `install_apps` capabilities could cause a legitimate app installation to write files outside the intended app directory, into `$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/` and its subdirectories.<br><br>The vulnerability is caused by a path traversal in the app installation workflow, which does not restrict the installation path to the intended app directory.

It is possible to read the advisory at advisory.splunk.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-20297 since 10/08/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1006 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 10.4.1, 10.2.5, 10.0.8, 9.4.13, 9.3.14, 10.5.2605.0, 10.4.2604.6, 10.2.2510.18 or 10.1.2507.24 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Log Management Software

Vendor

• Splunk

Name

• Cloud Platform
• Enterprise

License

• commercial

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