Overview
CVE-2025-20386 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Splunk Enterprise for Windows versions below 10.0.2, 9.4.6, 9.3.8, and 9.2.10. This vulnerability stems from incorrect permissions assignment during a new installation or upgrade, potentially granting unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources to non-administrator users.
Technical Details
The vulnerability lies in the way Splunk Enterprise for Windows assigns permissions to the installation directory during the setup or upgrade process. In affected versions, the permissions granted inadvertently allow non-administrator users to access the Splunk Enterprise installation directory and all of its contents. This includes configuration files, logs, and potentially even executable files. The root cause is a flaw in the installation script or process that doesn’t properly restrict access to the directory.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 8.0 (HIGH), indicating a significant risk. The score reflects the potential for unauthorized access and the relative ease with which the vulnerability can be exploited. The potential for data leakage and system compromise contributes to the high score.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-20386 can have serious consequences, including:
- Data Breach: Non-administrator users can access sensitive data stored within the Splunk Enterprise installation directory, including logs containing potentially confidential information.
- Configuration Manipulation: Unauthorized users may be able to modify Splunk Enterprise configuration files, potentially leading to system instability or security compromises.
- Privilege Escalation: In some scenarios, attackers may be able to leverage access to executable files to escalate their privileges on the system.
- Denial of Service: Malicious actors could potentially disrupt Splunk Enterprise operations by modifying or deleting critical files.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to upgrade to a patched version of Splunk Enterprise for Windows. The following versions address this vulnerability:
- Splunk Enterprise for Windows version 10.0.2 and later
- Splunk Enterprise for Windows version 9.4.6 and later
- Splunk Enterprise for Windows version 9.3.8 and later
- Splunk Enterprise for Windows version 9.2.10 and later
Alternatively, if immediate upgrade is not feasible, carefully review and correct the permissions on the Splunk Enterprise installation directory to ensure that only authorized users have access. Consult the Splunk documentation for recommended permissions configurations.
