CVE-2015-1994 in Security QRadar Incident Forensics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 5 does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for the session cookie, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via script access to this cookie.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2018
IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics version 7.2.x prior to 7.2.5 Patch 5 contains a critical security flaw in its session management implementation that exposes users to significant exploitation risks. The vulnerability stems from the absence of the HTTPOnly flag in Set-Cookie headers used for session management, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to harvest session tokens through client-side script execution. This configuration error fundamentally undermines the security posture of the application by failing to properly isolate session cookies from client-side scripting environments, thereby violating established security best practices for session management.
The technical flaw manifests as a direct violation of the OWASP Top Ten security principles, specifically addressing the weakness identified as "A07:2021 - Identification and Authentication Failures" and mapping to CWE-1004 which describes insecure cookie attributes. When session cookies lack the HTTPOnly flag, they become accessible to JavaScript running in the victim's browser, enabling attackers to perform cross-site scripting attacks that can steal session identifiers. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic example of insecure session management as defined in the OWASP Testing Guide. The absence of this security flag allows malicious scripts to access cookies through document.cookie, making it trivial for attackers to extract session tokens and impersonate legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, creating a comprehensive attack surface that can lead to full system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to hijack user sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive forensic data, system configurations, and administrative functions within the QRadar environment. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through credential access, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized system access, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as compromised session tokens can provide attackers with persistent access to forensic investigation capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch 7.2.5, which correctly implements the HTTPOnly flag in session cookies. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other applications or systems that may be similarly vulnerable, implementing the HTTPOnly flag across all session management implementations. Additional defensive measures include regular security audits of web applications, implementation of Content Security Policy headers, and monitoring for suspicious cookie access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cookie security configuration as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ISO/IEC 27001 security controls for information security management. Organizations must also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and session timeout mechanisms as additional layers of protection to reduce the impact of potential session hijacking attacks.