CVE-2015-2005 in Security QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.1.x before 7.1 MR2 Patch 12 and 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 6 does not properly expire sessions, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unattended workstation.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2005 affects IBM Security QRadar SIEM versions 7.1.x before 7.1 MR2 Patch 12 and 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 6, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise security information and event management systems. This issue stems from improper session expiration mechanisms within the QRadar platform, creating persistent access windows that can be exploited by remote attackers who gain physical access to unattended workstations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses inadequate session management and insufficient session expiration, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on QRadar for critical security monitoring and incident response operations.
The technical flaw manifests when users leave their workstations unattended without proper logout procedures or screen locking mechanisms, allowing attackers to exploit the system's failure to automatically terminate inactive sessions. This weakness creates a persistent access vector where unauthorized individuals can leverage existing session tokens to access sensitive information, including security event data, configuration details, user credentials, and system logs that would otherwise be protected by proper authentication controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for "Account Access Removal" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when considering the potential for privilege escalation through session hijacking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to maintain prolonged access to critical security infrastructure without detection. Organizations utilizing QRadar for security monitoring face significant risks when attackers exploit this weakness, potentially compromising the integrity of security event data, accessing confidential threat intelligence, or performing unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where QRadar serves as a central security hub, as it could allow attackers to manipulate security alerts, disable monitoring capabilities, or access sensitive forensic data that would be crucial for incident response and compliance auditing. This weakness also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper session lifecycle management, as the system fails to enforce automatic session termination based on predefined inactivity thresholds.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2005 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches that address the session expiration mechanisms within QRadar SIEM. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to versions 7.1 MR2 Patch 12 and 7.2.5 Patch 6, which contain the necessary fixes to properly terminate inactive sessions and prevent unauthorized access through unattended workstations. Additionally, security teams should implement supplementary controls such as configuring automatic screen locking after defined inactivity periods, establishing robust physical security measures for workstations, and implementing monitoring for unusual session activity patterns. The remediation approach should also include regular security assessments to validate that session management configurations are properly enforced and that access controls remain effective against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers and access controls to reduce the attack surface and ensure that even if session hijacking occurs, the attacker's access remains limited to prevent further compromise of the security infrastructure.