CVE-2015-1919 in Security QRadar Incident Forensics
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics before 7.2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1919 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics version 7.2.4 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the web application layer of the security information and event management platform, specifically in how the system processes and renders user-supplied URL parameters. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it a classic XSS attack vector that exploits the application's insufficient validation of web script and HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the QRadar Incident Forensics application fails to properly sanitize or encode URL parameters before rendering them in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that get executed when victims navigate to these crafted links or when the application processes the malformed input in its response handling. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer where users expect secure handling of input data, and the attack can be delivered through various means including phishing emails, malicious web links, or compromised websites that redirect users to vulnerable QRadar components. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's integrity and confidentiality by allowing attackers to manipulate the web interface and potentially gain access to forensic data or session information.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1919 extends beyond simple script execution as it represents a significant threat to the security posture of organizations relying on QRadar Incident Forensics for security operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious content into forensic reports, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the availability of the security platform by potentially disrupting forensic analysis operations and could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the network. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with a link, demonstrating how attackers can use this flaw to establish persistent access and conduct advanced persistent threats. The impact is particularly severe for security operations centers where the integrity of forensic data is paramount for incident response and compliance requirements.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM's security patches for QRadar Incident Forensics version 7.2.5 and later. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level, deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to detect similar flaws in other web applications within their environment. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and proper handling of user input can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software releases.