Privilege Escalation through Scheduled Search Alert Action Configuration in Splunk Enterprise

Summary

In Splunk Enterprise versions below 10.4.2, 10.2.6, 10.0.9, and 9.4.14, a user that holds a role with the schedule_search capability could run arbitrary Search Processing Language (SPL) commands with the highest level of system privilege and read every credential stored in the credential store, which can allow for disclosure and modification of all relevant data and affect system integrity and availability. The vulnerability is possible because scheduled search alert action configuration does not properly restrict user-specific alert action settings before the search scheduler runs alert actions. For more information see Create scheduled alerts (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/alert-and-respond/alerting-manual/9.3/create-alerts/create-scheduled-alerts), Set up alert actions (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/alert-and-respond/alerting-manual/9.3/configure-alert-actions/set-up-alert-actions), Define roles on the Splunk platform with capabilities (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/manage-users-and-security/10.4/manage-splunk-platform-users-and-roles/define-roles-on-the-splunk-platform-with-capabilities), and Configuration file precedence (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/administer/admin-manual/10.2/administer-splunk-enterprise-with-configuration-files/configuration-file-precedence) in the Splunk documentation.

Timeline

1. Aug 19, 2026, 9:34 PM UTCCVE published
2. Aug 21, 2026, 3:57 AM UTCCISA SSVC assessment

   Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total

3. Aug 27, 2026, 4:24 PM UTCRecord last updated

Affected versions

• Splunk Splunk Enterprise

  From 10.4 · fixed in 10.4.2; From 10.2 · fixed in 10.2.6; From 10.0 · fixed in 10.0.9; From 9.4 · fixed in 9.4.14

References 1