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In Splunk SOAR, tasks within workbooks can be performed by any user whose role has the 'Perform Task' capability enabled. This capability is assigned within the role configuration and allows users with the appropriate permissions to execute tasks. It is not limited to users with write access or the container owner; rather, it is based on the specific permissions granted to the role with which the user is associated.

In Splunk SOAR playbook development, the format block is used to assemble commands and data into a valid Splunk search query. This block allows users to structure and manipulate strings, dynamically inserting variables, and constructing the precise format needed for a search query. By using a format block, playbooks can integrate data from various sources and ensure that it is assembled correctly before passing it to subsequent actions, such as executing a Splunk search.

Other blocks, like action, filter, and prompt blocks, serve different purposes (e.g., running actions, filtering data, or prompting for user input), but the format block is specifically designed for building structured data or queries like Splunk searches.

References:

Splunk SOAR Documentation: Playbook Blocks Overview.

Splunk SOAR Playbook Editor Guide: Using the Format Block.

The best option for an analyst who wants to run a single action on an event is to open the event and run the action directly from the Investigation View. The Investigation View allows users to interact with events directly, and provides the ability to execute specific actions without the need for playbook development or debugging. This is the most straightforward and efficient way to execute a single action on an event, without the overhead of creating or editing playbooks.

While creating a playbook and using the Playbook Debugger are viable options, they introduce unnecessary complexity for running just one action. The goal is to allow the analyst to act quickly and efficiently within the Investigation View.

References:

Splunk SOAR Documentation: Investigation View Overview.

Splunk SOAR Best Practices for Running Actions on Events.

When configuring the Splunk app on the search head to search SOAR (Splunk's Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) searchable content, two key components are required:

User Accounts: The user accounts are necessary to authenticate and authorize users who are accessing SOAR data through the Splunk app. These accounts manage permissions and access levels to ensure the proper users can search and interact with the data coming from SOAR.

HTTP Event Collector (HEC) Token: The HEC token is crucial because it allows the Splunk app to receive data from Splunk SOAR. SOAR sends events and other data to the Splunk platform via HEC. This token is used for secure communication and authentication between Splunk and SOAR. The token must be configured in the Splunk app to allow it to collect and search SOAR data seamlessly.

Other options like syslog, REST API, or a universal forwarder are commonly used methods for ingesting data into Splunk but are not specific requirements for setting up the Splunk app to search SOAR content. The HTTP Event Collector is the primary method for this setup, along with the correct user accounts.

References:

Splunk Documentation on HTTP Event Collector and SOAR Integration.

Splunk SOAR App Setup Guide for Splunk Search Head Configuration.