CVE-2014-4824 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.2 before 7.2.3 Patch 1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4824 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within IBM Security QRadar SIEM version 7.2 prior to 7.2.3 Patch 1. This vulnerability resides in the web application interface of the security information and event management platform, which is widely deployed across enterprise environments for threat detection and security monitoring. The affected system processes user inputs through web interfaces that fail to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before incorporating it into database queries, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the QRadar web console components that handle user authentication and administrative functions. Attackers with valid credentials can manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters that bypass normal sanitization procedures. This allows for the execution of arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially enabling full database access and manipulation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through authenticated sessions, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privileges to exploit compared to other database-level attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the SIEM platform's integrity and availability. An attacker could extract sensitive security event data, modify or delete critical log information, escalate privileges within the database, or even gain access to underlying system resources. This poses significant risk to organizations relying on QRadar for security monitoring, as the compromise of the SIEM platform could result in undetected security breaches and loss of forensic evidence. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to maintain data integrity and confidentiality, undermining the core security functions that organizations depend upon for threat detection and incident response.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM Security QRadar 7.2.3 Patch 1, which addresses the input validation deficiencies that enable this attack vector. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and database query activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within networks and maintain persistent access. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their SIEM configurations and implement database activity monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in other components of their security infrastructure.