CVE-2014-4828 in Qradar Security Information And Event Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security QRadar SIEM QRM 7.1 MR1 and QRM/QVM 7.2 MR2 allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks via a crafted HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4828 affects IBM Security QRadar SIEM QRM 7.1 MR1 and QRM/QVM 7.2 MR2 versions, representing a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute clickjacking attacks through manipulated HTTP requests. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of the QRadar Security Information and Event Management system, which serves as a critical component for enterprise security monitoring and incident response operations. The affected systems operate under the assumption that legitimate user interactions occur through properly rendered web pages, creating an exploitable gap in the user interface security model that adversaries can leverage for unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate protection mechanisms within the QRadar web interface components. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests that, when executed in a victim's browser, overlay legitimate interface elements with deceptive content through transparent or semi-transparent layers. This technique allows malicious actors to manipulate user interactions by tricking victims into performing unintended actions on the QRadar system, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative access, data modification, or system compromise. The flaw specifically manifests in how the application handles user interface rendering and request processing, failing to implement proper security headers or frame-busting techniques that would prevent such overlay attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4828 extends beyond simple user interface manipulation, as it represents a potential gateway for more severe security breaches within enterprise environments. Organizations relying on QRadar for critical security monitoring may face unauthorized access to sensitive security data, modification of security policies, or manipulation of incident response procedures through these clickjacking vectors. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed security teams or remote access capabilities. Security administrators could be tricked into executing commands or modifying configurations that compromise the integrity of their security infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches or loss of security monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement proper Content Security Policy headers, specifically the frame-ancestors directive, to prevent their QRadar interfaces from being embedded within malicious frames. Additionally, the deployment of X-Frame-Options headers with the SAMEORIGIN or DENY values provides essential protection against clickjacking attacks by instructing browsers not to render the content within frames from external domains. IBM recommended applying the appropriate security patches and updates for QRadar QRM 7.1 MR1 and QRM/QVM 7.2 MR2 versions, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1021, which specifically addresses insufficient protection against clickjacking attacks, and corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control communications and T1566 for credential access through social engineering approaches.