CVE-2026-76319: Splunk Enterprise RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-76319 Overview

CVE-2026-76319 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in Splunk Enterprise that allows a low-privileged authenticated user to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) through the Federated Search dispatch flow. The Federated Search bundle selection accepts caller-controlled input without verifying that the user holds the fsh_manage capability, which governs federated providers and indexes. An attacker with basic user credentials can abuse this gap to execute arbitrary code on the Splunk instance. Successful exploitation grants access to relevant search data and impacts the integrity and availability of the affected deployment.

Critical Impact
Authenticated low-privileged users can achieve Remote Code Execution on Splunk Enterprise, exposing indexed data and compromising system integrity and availability.

Affected Products

Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.2
Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.2.6 and 10.0.9
Splunk Enterprise versions below 9.4.14

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-19 - CVE-2026-76319 published to NVD
2026-08-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-76319

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Federated Search for Splunk (FS4S) dispatch flow. Splunk defines the fsh_manage capability to gate management of federated providers and indexes. However, the dispatch flow that selects a Federated Search bundle at query time does not enforce this capability check. As a result, any authenticated user who can issue a search can influence bundle selection.

Because bundle content ultimately drives search-time configuration and processing on the search head, an attacker can leverage caller-controlled bundle selection to reach code paths that execute attacker-influenced logic. This yields Remote Code Execution in the context of the Splunk service. The attacker also gains access to data indexed under the federated providers reachable by the dispatch flow.

Root Cause

The root cause is a broken access control failure [CWE-862]. The Federated Search dispatch code path trusts caller-supplied bundle selection parameters without validating that the requesting user holds the fsh_manage capability. Splunk's role-based capability model exists precisely to prevent low-privileged roles from influencing federated search infrastructure, and skipping this check breaks the intended security boundary.

Attack Vector

An attacker requires network access to the Splunk Enterprise web or search API and valid credentials for any low-privileged account without fsh_manage. The attacker submits a search request that specifies a controlled Federated Search bundle. The dispatch flow accepts the selection, and processing of the bundle triggers code execution on the search head. No user interaction is required. Refer to the Splunk Security Advisory SVD-2026-0801 for authoritative technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-76319

Indicators of Compromise

Federated Search dispatch requests originating from accounts that do not hold the fsh_manage capability.
Unexpected bundle references or bundle paths in search.log or audit.log entries tied to federated search jobs.
New or modified files under Splunk's bundle staging directories written by low-privileged user sessions.
Splunk service processes spawning unexpected child processes such as shells, interpreters, or network utilities.

Detection Strategies

Audit Splunk _audit index for action=search events referencing federated providers where the user's role lacks fsh_manage.
Correlate REST API calls to Federated Search endpoints with the invoking user's assigned capabilities.
Alert on process lineage where splunkd spawns non-standard child processes on search heads.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Splunk internal logs and host process telemetry to a central analytics platform for capability-versus-action correlation.
Baseline normal federated search usage per role and alert on deviations, especially bundle selection by unprivileged users.
Monitor outbound network connections from Splunk search heads for anomalies that may indicate post-exploitation activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-76319

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Splunk Enterprise to 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, 9.4.14, or later as applicable to your release train.
Inventory all roles that can dispatch searches and review their capabilities against the principle of least privilege.
Restrict Federated Search usage to roles that explicitly require it until patches are deployed.

Patch Information

Splunk has released fixed builds addressing this vulnerability. See the Splunk Security Advisory SVD-2026-0801 for the definitive list of fixed versions and upgrade guidance. Administrators should follow Splunk's documented upgrade procedures and validate cluster health after patching.

Workarounds

Disable Federated Search for Splunk on affected search heads if the feature is not in active use.
Remove or restrict low-privileged roles from search dispatch on search heads that host federated providers.
Enforce the fsh_manage capability boundary by auditing role definitions per the Splunk capabilities documentation.

bash

# Example: list Splunk roles and capabilities to audit fsh_manage assignments
$SPLUNK_HOME/bin/splunk list role -auth admin:<password>

# Disable Federated Search app if not required (per Splunk guidance)
$SPLUNK_HOME/bin/splunk disable app federated_search -auth admin:<password>
$SPLUNK_HOME/bin/splunk restart