SPL Command Safeguards Bypass via the ‘pivot’ SPL Command in Splunk Enterprise

Advisory ID: SVD-2023-0204

CVE ID: CVE-2023-22934

Published: 2023-02-14

Last Update: 2023-02-14

CVSSv3.1 Score: 7.3, High

CWE: CWE-20

Bug ID: SPL-228734

Description

In Splunk Enterprise versions below 8.1.13, 8.2.10, and 9.0.4, the ‘pivot’ search processing language (SPL) command lets a search bypass SPL safeguards for risky commands using a saved search job. The vulnerability requires an authenticated user to craft the saved job and a higher privileged user to initiate a request within their browser. The vulnerability affects instances with Splunk Web enabled.

Solution

For Splunk Enterprise, upgrade versions to 8.1.13, 8.2.10, 9.0.4, or higher.

For Splunk Cloud Platform, Splunk is actively patching and monitoring the Splunk Cloud instances.

Product Status

ProductVersionComponentAffected VersionFix Version
Splunk Enterprise8.1Splunk Web8.1.12 and lower8.1.13
Splunk Enterprise8.2Splunk Web8.2.0 to 8.2.98.2.10
Splunk Enterprise9.0Splunk Web9.0.0 to 9.0.39.0.4
Splunk Cloud Platform-Splunk Web9.0.2209 and lower9.0.2209.3

Mitigations and Workarounds

The vulnerability affects instances with Splunk Web enabled; disabling Splunk Web is a possible workaround. See Disable unnecessary Splunk Enterprise components and the web.conf configuration specification file for more information on disabling Splunk Web.

Detections

This hunting search provides information on potential abuse of the ‘pivot’ SPL command on Splunk Enterprise versions below 8.1.13, 8.2.10, and 9.0.4.

Severity

Splunk rated the vulnerability as High, 7.3, with a CVSSv3.1 vector of CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. The vulnerability requires user access to craft a saved job, which reduces the severity compared to other SPL command safeguard bypasses.

If the Splunk Enterprise instance does not run Splunk Web, there is no impact and the severity is Informational.

Acknowledgments

Anton (therceman)