CVE-2026-76402: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) through the REST API in Splunk Connect for Kafka

What it is

In Splunk Connect for Kafka versions below 2.2.7, an unauthenticated user who can reach the Kafka Connect Representational State Transfer (REST) API could configure a non-secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Event Collector endpoint in Splunk Enterprise that causes the connector to send authentication credentials to an attacker-controlled server, allowing for exposure of credentials that compromise all relevant data sent through the connector and limited alteration of event delivery. The vulnerability is possible because HTTP Event Collector endpoint validation does not require secure transport by default. For more information see Install Splunk Connect for Kafka (https://help.splunk.com/en/data-management/integrate-data-with-add-ons/splunk-connect-for-kafka/2.2/install/install-splunk-connect-for-kafka), Data ingestion parameters for Splunk Connect for Kafka (https://help.splunk.com/en/data-management/integrate-data-with-add-ons/splunk-connect-for-kafka/2.2/overview/data-ingestion-parameters-for-splunk-connect-for-kafka), and Set up and use HTTP Event Collector with configuration files (https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/get-data-in/get-started-with-getting-data-in/9.4/get-data-with-http-event-collector/set-up-and-use-http-event-collector-with-configuration-files) in the Splunk documentation.

Workarounds

Restrict access to the Kafka Connect Representational State Transfer (REST) API to trusted administrative hosts and networks. Keep secure endpoint enforcement turned on so connector configuration requires secure transport for HTTP Event Collector endpoints. If you do not require a secure HTTP Event Collector transport, restrict that traffic to a trusted private network in addition to restricting Kafka Connect REST API access. For more information see [Data ingestion parameters for Splunk Connect for Kafka](https://help.splunk.com/en/data-management/integrate-data-with-add-ons/splunk-connect-for-kafka/2.2/overview/data-ingestion-parameters-for-splunk-connect-for-kafka) and [Set up and use HTTP Event Collector with configuration files](https://help.splunk.com/en/splunk-enterprise/get-data-in/get-started-with-getting-data-in/9.4/get-data-with-http-event-collector/set-up-and-use-http-event-collector-with-configuration-files) in the Splunk documentation.