Detection: Splunk Path Traversal In Splunk App For Lookup File Edit

Updated Date: 2024-05-22 ID: 8ed58987-738d-4917-9e44-b8ef6ab948a6 Author: Rod Soto, Eric McGinnis Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic identifies path traversal attempts in the Splunk App for Lookup File Editing. It detects specially crafted web requests targeting lookup files by analyzing the uri_query field in the _internal index. This activity is significant because it allows low-privilege users to read and write to restricted areas of the Splunk installation directory, potentially accessing sensitive files like password hashes. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and further exploitation of the Splunk environment.

1`splunkda` uri_query=*lookup_file* 
2| table clientip uri_query lookup_file owner namespace  version 
3| stats count by clientip namespace lookup_file uri_query 
4| `splunk_path_traversal_in_splunk_app_for_lookup_file_edit_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source Supported App
Splunk Splunk icon Splunk 'splunkd_ui_access' 'splunkd_ui_access.log' N/A

Macros Used

Name Value
splunkda index=_internal sourcetype=splunkd_access
splunk_path_traversal_in_splunk_app_for_lookup_file_edit_filter search *
splunk_path_traversal_in_splunk_app_for_lookup_file_edit_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1083 File and Directory Discovery Discovery
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
NistCategory.DE_AE
Cis18Value.CIS_10
APT18
APT28
APT3
APT32
APT38
APT39
APT41
APT5
Aoqin Dragon
BRONZE BUTLER
Chimera
Confucius
Dark Caracal
Darkhotel
Dragonfly
FIN13
Fox Kitten
Gamaredon Group
HAFNIUM
Inception
Ke3chang
Kimsuky
Lazarus Group
Leafminer
LuminousMoth
Magic Hound
MuddyWater
Mustang Panda
Patchwork
Sandworm Team
Scattered Spider
Sidewinder
Sowbug
TeamTNT
ToddyCat
Tropic Trooper
Turla
Windigo
Winnti Group
admin@338
menuPass

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Risk Event False
This configuration file applies to all detections of type hunting.

Implementation

This detection does not require you to ingest any new data. The detection does require the ability to search the _internal index. This detection is meant for on premise environments, and if executed on internet facing servers without a WAF may produce a lot of results. This detection will not work against obfuscated path traversal requests.

Known False Positives

This search may find additional path traversal exploitation attempts or malformed requests.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
Path traversal exploitation attempt from $clientip$ 40 50 80
The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset splunkd_access splunkd_access
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset splunkd_access splunkd_access

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 2