Splunk Enterprise: Improper Certificate Validation
CVE-2022-32156 is a high-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise from Splunk, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 9.0.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Splunk Enterprise to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.83% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 58% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Splunk Enterprise to 9.0.0 or a later version.
- Update Universal Forwarder to 9.0.0 or a later version.
- Update Splunk to 9.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on docs.splunk.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Splunk | Splunk Enterprise | before 9.0.0 | 9.0.0 |
| Splunk | Universal Forwarder | before 9.0.0 | 9.0.0 |
| Splunk | Splunk | before 9.0 | 9.0 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | CNA (splunk.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 6.8 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
In Splunk Enterprise and Universal Forwarder versions before 9.0, the Splunk command-line interface (CLI) did not validate TLS certificates while connecting to a remote Splunk platform instance by default. After updating to version 9.0, see Configure TLS host name validation for the Splunk CLI https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/9.0.0/Security/EnableTLSCertHostnameValidation#Configure_TLS_host_name_validation_for_the_Splunk_CLI to enable the remediation. The vulnerability does not affect the Splunk Cloud Platform. At the time of publishing, we have no evidence of exploitation of this vulnerability by external parties. The issue requires conditions beyond the control of a potential bad actor such as a machine-in-the-middle attack. Hence, Splunk rates the complexity of the attack as High.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Certificate Validation
The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Certificates should be carefully managed and checked to assure that data are encrypted with the intended owner's public key.
- If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the hostname.
More Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities (CWE-295)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Splunk Enterprise
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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