CVE-2013-5463 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The WinCollect agent in IBM Security QRadar SIEM before 7.1.1.569824 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by injecting a (1) DLL or (2) configuration file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5463 affects the WinCollect agent component within IBM Security QRadar SIEM software versions prior to 7.1.1.569824. This represents a critical access control flaw that enables remote attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions through malicious injection techniques. The WinCollect agent serves as a data collection module responsible for gathering system information from Windows endpoints and transmitting this data to the central QRadar SIEM server for security analysis and monitoring purposes.
The technical flaw resides in the insecure handling of dynamic link library (DLL) and configuration file injection within the WinCollect agent implementation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by placing malicious DLL files or configuration files in specific directories that the agent monitors or accesses during normal operation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the agent's file processing routines. When the WinCollect agent encounters these injected files, it executes or processes them without proper authentication or authorization checks, effectively allowing arbitrary code execution or configuration modification.
This vulnerability creates significant operational impact for organizations relying on QRadar SIEM for security monitoring and incident response. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, execute malicious code on target systems, or manipulate the security data collection process to hide malicious activities from detection. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local system access or authentication, making it a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited from anywhere on the network. The compromised WinCollect agent could potentially provide attackers with persistent access to endpoint systems while simultaneously allowing them to manipulate security event data, creating a sophisticated attack scenario that undermines the integrity of the entire SIEM solution.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to IBM Security QRadar SIEM version 7.1.1.569824 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the exposure of WinCollect agent components to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing file integrity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized DLL or configuration file modifications. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script interpreter, as well as T1070 for indicator removal. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WinCollect agents and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.