CVE-2013-5448 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Right Click Plugin context menus in IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.1 and 7.2 before 7.2 MR1 Patch 1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The CVE-2013-5448 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security QRadar SIEM's Right Click Plugin context menus, affecting versions 7.1 and 7.2 prior to 7.2 MR1 Patch 1. This vulnerability resides in the web application's user interface component that handles context menu interactions, specifically targeting the plugin architecture that extends QRadar's functionality through right-click operations. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's response handling, creating a persistent vector for exploitation that could compromise the integrity of the security information and event management platform. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that QRadar serves as a central security operations platform where analysts interact with sensitive security data and system controls through these context menus.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Right Click Plugin's context menu processing logic. When users interact with context menus in QRadar's web interface, the application processes user-supplied data through unspecified vectors that fail to properly sanitize or encode potentially malicious input before rendering it in the browser context. This weakness enables attackers to inject script code that executes within the victim's browser session, leveraging the authenticated user's privileges to perform actions within the application's security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly escape special characters or validate the integrity of context menu parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's response to include malicious payloads that can execute in the browser context of authenticated users.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5448 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive security data within the QRadar environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that capture user credentials, modify security events, or redirect users to malicious sites that appear legitimate within the QRadar interface. The vulnerability's authenticated nature means that attackers must first gain access to legitimate user accounts, but once achieved, they can exploit the XSS flaw to maintain persistence and expand their access within the security operations environment. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on QRadar for security monitoring, as the compromise of a single authenticated user could potentially expose the entire security event management platform to further attacks. The vulnerability affects the platform's integrity and confidentiality by allowing unauthorized code execution within the context of legitimate user sessions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch 7.2 MR1 Patch 1 that addresses this specific XSS vulnerability in the Right Click Plugin context menus. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, along with comprehensive monitoring of user activity within the QRadar environment for suspicious behavior patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that require proper input validation and output encoding. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through web shell execution, and T1566 for social engineering through malicious content. Organizations should also review their access control policies to ensure that privileged accounts are protected through multi-factor authentication and that user sessions are properly terminated after periods of inactivity to minimize the window of opportunity for exploitation.