CVE-2025-20298
8.0 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2025-20298 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting splunk universal_forwarder. It was published on June 2, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In Universal Forwarder for Windows versions below 9.4.2, 9.3.4, 9.2.6, and 9.1.9, a new installation of or an upgrade to an affected version can result in incorrect permissions assignment in the Universal Forwarder for Windows Installation directory (by default, C:\Program Files\SplunkUniversalForwarder). This lets non-administrator users on the machine access the directory and all its contents.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from splunk. Update universal_forwarder to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| splunk | universal_forwarder | >= 9.1.0, < 9.1.9 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-20298?
CVE-2025-20298 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting splunk universal_forwarder. It was published on June 2, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2025-20298?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2025-20298?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from splunk. Update universal_forwarder to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2025-20298?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2025-20298 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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