CVE-2026-76338

Improper Authentication through REST API Distributed Search Token Requests in Splunk Enterprise

Published Aug 19, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.1 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, an unauthenticated user who has access to a trusted distributed search private key could forge an administrative session token, access all relevant data, affect system integrity, and disrupt service availability. The vulnerability is possible because the distributed search authentication token endpoint does not require a signed request to identify a configured search peer, allowing the request to fall back to shared local key material. For more information see About distributed search (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/distributed-search/10.4/overview-of-distributed-search/about-distributed-search) and authentication.conf (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/admin-manual/10.4/configuration-file-reference/10.4.2-configuration-file-reference/authentication.conf) in Splunk documentation.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade Splunk Enterprise to versions 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, or higher. Set `strictPeerNameValidation = true` in `authentication.conf` on every distributed node, then restart Splunk Enterprise.


Vendor Workaround

Turn off legacy distributed search token fallback by setting strictPeerNameValidation = true in the authentication.conf configuration file if you do not use distributed search peers that omit peername. Restart Splunk Enterprise on every node in the distributed environment after applying the setting. For more information see [authentication.conf](https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/admin-manual/10.4/configuration-file-reference/10.4.2-configuration-file-reference/authentication.conf) in the Splunk documentation.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Splunk splunk
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:splunk:splunk:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Splunk splunk
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Splunk
Splunk splunk Enterprise
Vendors & Products Splunk
Splunk splunk Enterprise
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, an unauthenticated user who has access to a trusted distributed search private key could forge an administrative session token, access all relevant data, affect system integrity, and disrupt service availability. The vulnerability is possible because the distributed search authentication token endpoint does not require a signed request to identify a configured search peer, allowing the request to fall back to shared local key material. For more information see About distributed search (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/distributed-search/10.4/overview-of-distributed-search/about-distributed-search) and authentication.conf (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/admin-manual/10.4/configuration-file-reference/10.4.2-configuration-file-reference/authentication.conf) in Splunk documentation.
Title Improper Authentication through REST API Distributed Search Token Requests in Splunk Enterprise
Weaknesses CWE-287
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
cisco
Published
Updated
Aug 27, 2026, 4:24 PM
Reserved
Aug 19, 2026, 12:02 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Aug 19, 2026, 10:17 PM
Modified
Aug 27, 2026, 5:20 PM