GitHub Repo

Detection: Splunk Data exfiltration from Analytics Workspace using sid query

REMOVED DETECTION

This detection has been removed from the Splunk Threat Research content library and is no longer maintained or supported.

Reason: Detection is deprecated as the associated CVEs have been patched in the latest Splunk release.

Removed in version: 5.6.0

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at research@splunk.com.

Updated Date: 2026-05-14 ID: b6d77c6c-f011-4b03-8650-8f10edb7c4a8 Author: Rod Soto, Eric McGinnis Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic identifies attempts to exfiltrate data by executing a prepositioned malicious search ID in Splunk's Analytic Workspace. It leverages the audit_searches data source to detect suspicious mstats commands indicative of injection attempts. This activity is significant as it may indicate a phishing-based attack where an attacker compels a victim to initiate a malicious request, potentially leading to unauthorized data access. If confirmed malicious, this could result in significant data exfiltration, compromising sensitive information and impacting the organization's security posture.

1`audit_searches` info=granted search NOT ("audit_searches") search NOT ("security_content_summariesonly") AND ((search="*mstats*[*]*" AND provenance="N/A") OR (search="*mstats*\\\"*[*]*\\\"*"))
2| eval warning=if(match(search,"\\\\\""), "POTENTIAL INJECTION STAGING", "POTENTIAL INJECTION EXECUTION") 
3| table search, user, warning, timestamp 
4| `splunk_data_exfiltration_from_analytics_workspace_using_sid_query_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Splunk Splunk icon Splunk 'splunkd_ui_access' 'splunkd_ui_access.log'

Macros Used

Name Value
audit_searches index=_audit sourcetype=audittrail action=search
splunk_data_exfiltration_from_analytics_workspace_using_sid_query_filter ``
splunk_data_exfiltration_from_analytics_workspace_using_sid_query_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
T1567 Exfiltration Over Web Service Exfiltration

CVE

Default Configuration

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

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule N/A
Earliest Time N/A
Latest Time N/A
Schedule Window N/A
Creates Finding (Notable) No
Creates Intermediate Finding (Risk Event) No
Hunting detections do not generate a Finding (Notable) or Intermediate Findings (Risk Events).

Implementation

The vulnerability affects only instances with Splunk Web Enabled. After running this search, please run "Splunk Command and Scripting Interpreter Risky SPL MLTK" to gain more insight into potentially risky commands which could lead to data exfiltration.

Known False Positives

This search may produce false positives. This detection does not require you to ingest any new data. The detection does require the ability to search the _audit index. Special attention must be paid to "/en-US/app/search/analytics_workspace?sid=[sid]" which is where the malicious code will be inserted to trigger attack at victim.

Associated Analytic Story

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation Not Applicable N/A N/A N/A
Unit Not Applicable N/A N/A N/A

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: 6