Detection: Splunk XSS in Monitoring Console

EXPERIMENTAL DETECTION

This detection status is set to experimental. The Splunk Threat Research team has not yet fully tested, simulated, or built comprehensive datasets for this detection. As such, this analytic is not officially supported. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at research@splunk.com.

Updated Date: 2024-05-17 ID: b11accac-6fa3-4103-8a1a-7210f1a67087 Author: Lou Stella, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic identifies attempts to exploit a reflective Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Splunk Distributed Monitoring Console app. It detects GET requests with suspicious query parameters by analyzing splunkd_web logs in the _internal index. This activity is significant because it targets a known vulnerability (CVE-2022-27183) that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the user's browser. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized actions, data theft, or further compromise of the Splunk environment.

1 `splunkd_web` method="GET" uri_query="description=%3C*" 
2| table _time host status clientip user uri 
3| `splunk_xss_in_monitoring_console_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source Supported App
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Macros Used

Name Value
splunkd_web index=_internal sourcetype=splunk_web_access
splunk_xss_in_monitoring_console_filter search *
splunk_xss_in_monitoring_console_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
T1189 Drive-by Compromise Initial Access
KillChainPhase.DELIVERY
NistCategory.DE_CM
Cis18Value.CIS_10
APT19
APT28
APT32
APT37
APT38
Andariel
Axiom
BRONZE BUTLER
Dark Caracal
Darkhotel
Dragonfly
Earth Lusca
Elderwood
Lazarus Group
Leafminer
Leviathan
Machete
Magic Hound
Mustard Tempest
PLATINUM
PROMETHIUM
Patchwork
RTM
Threat Group-3390
Transparent Tribe
Turla
Windigo
Windshift

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 Notable Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

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 will find attempted exploitation of CVE-2022-27183.

Known False Positives

Use of the monitoring console where the less-than sign (<) is the first character in the description field.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
A potential XSS attempt has been detected from $user$ 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 Not Applicable N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset /opt/splunk/var/log/splunk/web_access.log splunk_web_access
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset /opt/splunk/var/log/splunk/web_access.log splunk_web_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