Detect Ivanti Endpoint Manager (EPM) Authentication Bypass (CVE-2026-1603) in Splunk
CVE-2026-1603 is an authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-288) in Ivanti Endpoint Manager (EPM). This KEV-listed vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the EPM management interface. Successful exploitation may lead to full compromise of managed endpoints, lateral movement, and deployment of malicious software across the enterprise.
MITRE ATT&CK
SPL Detection Query
index=windows OR index=network sourcetype IN ("WinEventLog:Security", "XmlWinEventLog:Security", "stream:tcp", "ivanti:epm")
| eval is_epm_process=if(match(lower(process_name), "landesk|ivanti|epmag|cba8|ldiscov"), 1, 0)
| eval is_epm_port=if(dest_port IN ("9675", "9676", "443", "80") AND is_epm_process=1, 1, 0)
| eval bypass_indicator=case(
EventCode IN ("4624", "4648") AND LogonType="3" AND Account_Name="" , "empty_account_network_logon",
EventCode="4624" AND LogonType="3" AND match(lower(Account_Name), "anonymous|guest"), "anonymous_logon",
EventCode="4625" AND match(lower(Failure_Reason), "bypass|token|unauthenticated"), "auth_bypass_failure",
EventCode="4648" AND is_epm_process=1 AND match(lower(Account_Name), "anonymous|guest|null"), "explicit_credential_bypass",
true(), "nominal"
)
| where bypass_indicator!="nominal"
| eval src_ip=coalesce(src_ip, IpAddress, SourceAddress)
| eval dest_ip=coalesce(dest_ip, DestAddress)
| stats count AS event_count, values(bypass_indicator) AS bypass_indicators, earliest(_time) AS first_seen, latest(_time) AS last_seen BY src_ip, dest_ip, Account_Name, process_name, host
| where event_count >= 1
| eval risk_score=case(
match(bypass_indicators, "empty_account|anonymous"), 90,
match(bypass_indicators, "auth_bypass_failure"), 75,
true(), 60
)
| sort - risk_score
| table first_seen, last_seen, host, src_ip, dest_ip, Account_Name, process_name, bypass_indicators, event_count, risk_scoreDetects authentication bypass indicators against Ivanti EPM by correlating Windows Security events and network flows for anomalous logon patterns including anonymous, empty, or bypass-flagged authentication to EPM-related processes.
Data Sources
Required Sourcetypes
False Positives & Tuning
- Authorized EPM service account logons during maintenance windows or patch deployment cycles
- Security scanner or vulnerability assessment tools targeting EPM endpoints during authorized engagements
- Guest or anonymous accounts used in test or lab environments connected to production EPM
- EPM agent initial provisioning workflows that use temporary anonymous credentials
Other platforms for CVE-2026-1603
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate Anonymous Network Logon to EPM Port
Expected signal: Windows Security EventID 4624 with LogonType=3 and AccountName blank or 'ANONYMOUS LOGON' on the EPM server; IIS access log entry with 401/200 status for /ldlogon/ from test source IP; network flow record on EPM management port 9675.
- Test 2EPM Process Spawning Suspicious Child Process
Expected signal: DeviceProcessEvents entry showing cmd.exe spawned with working directory in Ivanti Management Suite path; process creation event with parent process in EPM directory; command line containing 'whoami' captured in endpoint telemetry.
- Test 3Authentication Bypass Simulation via Empty Credential HTTP Request
Expected signal: IIS access log entry on EPM server showing request to /ldlogon/ with empty Authorization header from test IP; network flow record; if EPM processes the request, a Windows Security EventID 4624 or 4648 with minimal credential context.
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