CVE-2014-4825 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security QRadar SIEM QRM 7.1 MR1 and QRM/QVM 7.2 MR2 does not properly implement secure connections, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to discover cleartext credentials via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4825 affects IBM Security QRadar SIEM QRM versions 7.1 MR1 and QRM/QVM 7.2 MR2, representing a critical weakness in the secure communication implementation of this security information and event management platform. This issue stems from insufficient cryptographic protection mechanisms that fail to establish properly secured connections between components within the QRadar ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and credential handling processes, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this platform for threat detection and incident response.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation of secure communication protocols, which allows attackers positioned in a man-in-the-middle position to intercept and extract cleartext credentials during network communication. This weakness operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve the failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates, inadequate encryption strength, or missing secure connection establishment mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially creates a communication channel that can be exploited to capture authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive credentials without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. This represents a significant deviation from the expected security controls that should protect sensitive information flowing through enterprise security platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the QRadar SIEM environment and the security data it processes. Organizations using affected versions face the risk of unauthorized access to their security monitoring infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate alerts, modify security policies, or gain persistence within their network monitoring systems. The exposure of cleartext credentials could provide attackers with access to additional systems and resources within the organization's attack surface, as QRadar often serves as a central hub for security operations and integrates with various network monitoring and threat intelligence systems. This vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model that security platforms depend upon for protecting sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4825 should prioritize immediate deployment of available patches and updates from IBM, as well as implementation of network-level protections such as strict certificate validation policies and enhanced monitoring of suspicious network traffic. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls including network segmentation, mandatory encryption for all communications, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319 (CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards. From an attack surface perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1075 (Pass the Hash) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers could leverage stolen credentials to escalate privileges or establish further footholds within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also implement comprehensive credential rotation procedures and strengthen their overall security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.