CVE-2024-22164 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2024-22164 was published on January 9, 2024, by Splunk. It impacts Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions below 7.1.2, allowing an attacker to exploit investigation attachments to perform a denial of service attack (DoS) on the Investigation.

Understanding CVE-2024-22164

This vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) poses a risk to the availability of the Investigation feature due to improper request size limitations on the attachment endpoint.

What is CVE-2024-22164?

In Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions below 7.1.2, an attacker can use investigation attachments to perform a denial of service (DoS) to the Investigation. The attachment endpoint does not properly limit the size of the request, enabling an attacker to make the Investigation inaccessible.

The Impact of CVE-2024-22164

The impact of this CVE is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to disrupt the Investigation feature, potentially affecting the availability of Splunk Enterprise Security (ES).

Technical Details of CVE-2024-22164

This section provides more insights into the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper size limitations on the request made through investigation attachments, allowing attackers to trigger a denial of service attack on the Investigation functionality.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted system is Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) versions below 7.1.2. Specifically, versions 7.3, 7.2, and 7.1 are affected, with specific version numbers being mentioned.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending oversized requests through investigation attachments, ultimately causing the Investigation feature to become inaccessible.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the CVE-2024-22164 vulnerability, it is imperative to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) to versions equal to or above 7.1.2 to mitigate the risk of this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring attachment sizes and enforcing proper request limitations can help prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporating robust security measures, conducting regular security audits, and ensuring timely software updates can prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

Splunk may release patches or updates to address CVE-2024-22164. It is crucial for users to stay informed about security advisories from Splunk and apply updates promptly to secure their systems.