CVE-2024-22165 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2024-22165 was assigned by Splunk and published on January 9, 2024. It relates to a vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions lower than 7.1.2 that allows an attacker to perform a denial of service attack by creating a malformed Investigation. This vulnerability impacts the availability of the Investigations manager within Splunk ES, rendering the Investigations functionality unusable for most users.

Understanding CVE-2024-22165

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2024-22165, including the vulnerability description, impact, affected systems and versions, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2024-22165?

The CVE-2024-22165 vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions lower than 7.1.2 enables attackers to execute a denial of service attack by creating a malformed Investigation. This malicious act disrupts the normal functioning of the Investigations manager, leading to unavailability in the Investigations functionality for many users.

The Impact of CVE-2024-22165

The impact of CVE-2024-22165 is significant as it can disrupt the availability of the Investigations manager within Splunk ES, affecting the overall usability of the Investigations functionality. This hurdle can impede crucial security investigations and hamper the operational efficiency of the platform until the issue is addressed.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-22165

In this segment, we will explore the specific technical aspects of CVE-2024-22165, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions lower than 7.1.2 allows attackers to create a malformed Investigation, leading to a denial of service attack. This results in the unavailability of the Investigations manager until the malformed investigation is removed.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions less than 7.1.2. Specifically, versions 7.3 (less than 7.3.0), 7.2 (less than 7.2.0), and 7.1 (less than 7.1.2) are vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker requires an authenticated session and access to create an Investigation in the impacted Splunk ES versions. By crafting a malformed Investigation, the attacker can trigger the denial of service condition, impacting the Investigations manager's functionality.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section will outline the necessary steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2024-22165, ensuring the security of Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) environments.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions lower than 7.1.2 should take immediate action to address this vulnerability. It is crucial to apply security patches, updates, or workarounds provided by Splunk to mitigate the risk of a denial of service attack through the creation of a malformed Investigation.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, ensuring a robust security posture by regularly updating and patching Splunk ES installations can help prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited. Implementing security best practices, monitoring for unauthorized activities, and conducting security assessments are essential for safeguarding against potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates released by Splunk for Splunk Enterprise Security (ES). Promptly applying patches and updates provided by the vendor can help address vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-22165 and enhance the overall security posture of the environment.