CVE-2025-20229 is a vulnerability identified in Splunk Enterprise versions below 9.3.3, 9.2.5, and 9.1.8, as well as in Splunk Cloud Platform versions below 9.3.2408.104, 9.2.2406.108, 9.2.2403.114, and 9.1.2312.208. The flaw arises from insufficient authorization checks on file uploads to the "$SPLUNK_HOME/var/run/splunk/apptemp" directory. This directory is critical as it can be used to store executable files that the Splunk service may run. A low-privileged user, who does not possess the "admin" or "power" roles, can exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious file to this directory, resulting in remote code execution (RCE). The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only requires low privileges (PR:L) but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker can fully compromise the affected system, potentially gaining control over the Splunk instance and any data it processes. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the severity and ease of exploitation make it a critical issue for organizations relying on Splunk for log management and security monitoring. The vulnerability was published on March 26, 2025, and assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.0, reflecting its high risk. The root cause is missing or incorrect access restrictions on a sensitive resource, allowing unauthorized actors to upload and execute malicious code. This vulnerability underscores the importance of strict role-based access control and secure handling of file uploads in enterprise software.

The impact of CVE-2025-20229 is significant for organizations worldwide that use affected versions of Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with low privileges to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive log data, disruption of security monitoring capabilities, and lateral movement within the network. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Splunk environment and possibly connected systems are at risk. Given Splunk's role in security analytics and operational intelligence, exploitation could blind organizations to ongoing attacks or cause data loss and service outages. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks, including ransomware deployment or data exfiltration. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for organizations to patch and mitigate before active exploitation occurs. However, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the impact demand urgent attention.

1. Immediately upgrade Splunk Enterprise to version 9.3.3 or later, 9.2.5 or later, or 9.1.8 or later, and Splunk Cloud Platform to the corresponding patched versions as specified by the vendor. 2. Restrict file upload capabilities strictly to trusted, high-privilege roles and implement additional authorization checks on upload endpoints. 3. Monitor the "$SPLUNK_HOME/var/run/splunk/apptemp" directory for unauthorized or suspicious file uploads and executions. 4. Employ network segmentation to limit access to Splunk management interfaces and reduce exposure to low-privileged users. 5. Use application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and block unauthorized code execution attempts. 6. Conduct regular audits of user roles and permissions within Splunk to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 7. Review and enhance logging and alerting around file upload activities and unusual process executions within Splunk environments. 8. Educate administrators and users about the risks of this vulnerability and the importance of applying patches promptly.