A recently discovered vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-45731, affects specific versions of Splunk Enterprise for Windows. This security flaw grants low-privileged users without "admin" or "power" Splunk roles the ability to write files to the Windows system root directory. Typically, this directory is the Windows System32 folder.

Affected versions are Splunk Enterprise for Windows below 9.3.1, 9.2.3, and 9.1.6. The vulnerability arises when Splunk Enterprise for Windows is installed on a separate drive.

Overview

This post will discuss the details of the vulnerability, providing code snippets to demonstrate possible exploitation, links to original references, and details on the potential impact of this vulnerability on affected systems.

Code Snippet

The issue lies in an improper access control enforced by Splunk Enterprise for Windows. A low-privileged user could write a file to the Windows system root directory, which could lead to further exploitation. Below is a code snippet that illustrates the file writing operation:

import os

# Assume the attacker identifies the drive where Splunk Enterprise for Windows is installed
splunk_drive = "D:\\"

# The attacker could potentially write a file to the Windows System32 folder
system_root = os.path.join(splunk_drive, "Windows\\System32")

# The attacker creates a malicious file
malicious_file = os.path.join(system_root, "malicious_file.txt")

with open(malicious_file, "w") as f:
    f.write("This is a malicious file.")

By executing this code snippet, the attacker could create a malicious file within the Windows System32 folder.

Original References

1. Splunk Security Advisory: https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/cve-2024-45731.html
2. CVE-2024-45731 Description: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-45731
3. NVD Vulnerability Details: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-45731

Exploit Details

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges on the affected system. Creating files in the Windows system root directory presents a security risk as it could lead to further unauthorized access or execution of malicious code, potentially compromising the entire system.

In a worst-case scenario, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to create a persistent backdoor, execute arbitrary code, or install malicious software without the knowledge of the system administrator.

Recommendation

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is highly recommended to update affected instances of Splunk Enterprise for Windows to version 9.3.1, 9.2.3, or 9.1.6, depending on the branch you are using. Additionally, follow best practices regarding user account management and permissions, ensuring that only authorized users with the required privileges are granted access to modify critical system directories.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-45731 is a critical security vulnerability that allows low-privileged users to write files to the Windows system root directory in specific versions of Splunk Enterprise for Windows. By promptly addressing this vulnerability and implementing proper access controls, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential cyberattacks.

Timeline

Published on: 10/14/2024 17:15:11 UTC
Last modified on: 01/07/2025 16:47:42 UTC