CVE-2014-0835 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.2 MR1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that modify console Auto Update settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The CVE-2014-0835 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within IBM Security QRadar SIEM version 7.2 MR1 and earlier deployments. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative console of the security information and event management platform, specifically targeting the Auto Update configuration functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate administrative sessions without proper authentication, exploiting the absence of robust CSRF protection mechanisms in the affected system. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's session management and request validation processes, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise enterprise security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the lack of proper anti-CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms within the Auto Update configuration endpoints. When administrators perform actions related to console updates, the system fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate authenticated users. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing user sessions to submit unauthorized update commands that modify critical system settings. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface of QRadar SIEM, leveraging the trust relationship between the browser and the application server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context where elevated privileges are already assumed, making the impact significantly more severe than typical CSRF attacks against standard user functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate core system configurations that govern security monitoring and alerting capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially disable security updates, modify critical monitoring parameters, or redirect system resources to facilitate further attacks. The compromised Auto Update settings could prevent legitimate security patches from being applied, leaving the system vulnerable to additional exploitation vectors while maintaining the attacker's access. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the security monitoring infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to remain undetected while undermining the organization's security posture. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may inadvertently interact with malicious content.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and establishing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers may leverage compromised administrative sessions to maintain persistence and expand their attack surface. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting administrative access to trusted networks, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Organizations should also establish robust monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and ensure that administrative sessions are properly terminated when not in use, as the vulnerability specifically targets authenticated sessions that remain active in browser environments.