Splunk has revealed a significant security vulnerability affecting its Enterprise software for Windows, which could enable local users with limited privileges to escalate their access rights to SYSTEM level. This flaw, rooted in DLL search-order hijacking, poses a serious threat to affected systems.
Details of the Vulnerability
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2026-20140 and released on February 18, 2026, has been classified with a CVSSv3.1 score of 7.7, indicating a high severity level. This issue is related to CWE-427, which involves an uncontrolled search path element, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution.
Affected versions include Splunk Enterprise for Windows versions below 10.2.0, 10.0.3, 9.4.8, 9.3.9, and 9.2.12. Attackers with low-level access can exploit this flaw by inserting a malicious DLL into a specific directory on the system drive where Splunk is installed. Upon restarting the Splunk Enterprise service, the compromised DLL can be loaded with SYSTEM-level privileges, granting full control of the machine to the attacker.
Implications and Risks
The CVSS details highlight several critical factors of this vulnerability. Although the attack requires local access (AV:L), the complexity is high (AC:H) and necessitates user interaction (UI:R), posing a substantial threat in environments with shared or multi-user Windows systems.
Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability can severely impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as indicated by the high severity ratings across these areas. Notably, non-Windows deployments of Splunk are unaffected, where the issue is considered informational rather than critical.
Mitigation and Recommendations
Splunk has released patches in versions 10.2.0, 10.0.3, 9.4.8, 9.3.9, and 9.2.12 to address this vulnerability. It is strongly advised for organizations using Splunk Enterprise on Windows to promptly implement these updates to protect their systems.
For situations where immediate patching is not possible, administrators should limit write permissions on the system drive directories to prevent unauthorized DLL installations. Currently, there are no known active exploits or detections in the wild, indicating a window of opportunity to secure systems before potential exploitation.
This vulnerability was responsibly disclosed by security researcher Marius Gabriel Mihai, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and prompt action in maintaining cybersecurity. Stay informed by following our updates on Google News, LinkedIn, and X.
