Enterprise security: Unable to create a new lookup with Error: Failed to save lookup. A managed lookup entry already exists for lookup:

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Updated:September 29, 2026
Document ID:SPLK044830

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Applicability

Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

Unable to create a new lookup using an existing lookup.

Error: Failed to save lookup. A managed lookup entry already exists for lookup:
  1. Select Configure > Content > Content Management.
  2. Click Create New Content > Managed Lookup.
  3. Click Select Existing.
  4. Select the lookup definition from the drop-down list.
    Knowledge__kav-Description__c2020-04-23 03-15-58.png 
    (Optional) Modify the lookup type.
  5. Type a label for the lookup. The label appears as the name for the lookup on the Content Management page.
  6. Type a description for the lookup.
    (Optional) Change the option to allow editing of the lookup file.
  7. Click Save.

    then error showed and unable to create lookup with existing lookup
     
Error: Failed to save lookup. A managed lookup entry already exists for lookup: 
(Any lookup names) e.g AusCert_Malicious_IP_Domain_List




Investigation

Using following command for find the Specific lookup that shows in the error 
find /opt/splunk/etc/ -name managed_configurations.conf |xargs grep Aus
 
splunk@sh-i-00d0a00c0b000000c:~$ find /opt/splunk/etc/ -name managed_configurations.conf |xargs grep AusCert
[lookup:AusCert_Malicious_IP_Domain_List]
/opt/splunk/etc/apps/SA-ThreatIntelligence/local/managed_configurations.conf:description = AusCert Malicious IP and Domain List
/opt/splunk/etc/apps/SA-ThreatIntelligence/local/managed_configurations.conf:endpoint = /services/data/transforms/lookups/AusCert_Malicious_IP_Domain_List
/opt/splunk/etc/apps/SA-ThreatIntelligence/local/managed_configurations.conf:label = AusCert_Malicious_IP_Domain_List

Resolution

  1. The existing lookup info AusCert_Malicious_IP_Domain_List  was left in /local/managed_configurations.conf so you need to delete the information.  (For SplunkCloud, you need to process it via the support case)
  2. Once the lookup was deleted in /local/managed_configurations.conf, then you should be able to create a new lookup. 

Revision History

Revision Publish Date Comments
1.0
29-Sep-2026
Initial Release

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