Securing the Splunk Platform

Configure allowed and restricted SSL versions

Splunk Enterprise version 6.2 and later provides the sslVersions keyword to restrict older versions of protocols. SSLv3 is shipped out of box to support easy upgrades but should be disabled as soon as upgrades are complete. By default, Splunk Enterprise allows communications on SSLv3 and all subsequent versions.

When Splunk Enterprise is configured in FIPS mode, SSLv2 and SSLv3 are always disabled regardless of any additional configuration.

CAUTION: To avoid the v3 "POODLE" vulnerability, remove SSLv3 as upgrades are applied to your environment.

Configure web.conf

1. In web.conf, update the sslVersions attribute to list or limit the versions (separated by commas) you want to permit. By defaults this attribute is set to *,-sslv2, which is any version newer than SSLv2 (not recommended). For 6.2 the allowed SSL versions are:

• SSLv2 (not recommended)
• SSLv3 (not recommended)
• TLS1.0 (not recommended)
• TLS1.1
• TLS1.2

For example:

sslVersions = tls1.1, tls1.2

Syntax options

To select all supported versions use "*":

sslVersions = *

To include all versions tls1.0 or newer use "tls":

sslVersions = tls

To restrict a particular version prefix it with "-" :

sslVersions = *, -ssl3

Note: When Splunk Enterprise is configured in FIPS mode, SSLv2 and SSLv3 are always disabled regardless of this configuration.

2. In inputs.conf, update the sslVersions attribute to list or limit the versions (separated by commas) you want Splunk Enterprise to support.

sslVersions = ssl2, tls1.1, tls1.2

You can use "*" to select all supported versions:

sslVersions = *

Simply use "tls" to include all versions tls1.1 or newer:

sslVersions = tls

The prefix a version with "-" to restrict a particular version:

sslVersions = *, -ssl3

3. Configure forwarders to be compatible with your indexer. Changing or limiting the SSL versions (and restricting SSLv3) can create compatibility issues with forwarders, particularly those that run earlier versions of Splunk Enterprise. For forwarders running 6.2 you can mitigate compatibility issues by also updating each forwarder's inputs.conf and web.conf settings in addition to your indexer.

Update any forwarders to 6.2 to be consistent with your indexer and the SSL settings (For purposes of backward compatibility, 6.0 can support up to tls1.1.)

Configure server.conf

Configure your server.conf file to accept connections with clients (for example, web.conf by editing the sslVersions attribute so that it is the same as your client(s).

For example:

[sslConfig]
sslVersions = tls1.1, tls1.2