CVE-2015-2009 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the xmlrpc.cgi service in IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 before MR2 Patch 11 Interim Fix 02 and 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 4 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that insert XSS sequences via vectors related to webmin. IBM X-Force ID: 103921.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The CVE-2015-2009 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within IBM QRadar SIEM's xmlrpc.cgi service interface. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 7.1.x prior to MR2 Patch 11 Interim Fix 02 and 7.2.x versions before 7.2.5 Patch 4, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these SIEM implementations. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of incoming requests, allowing malicious actors to exploit the service's authentication mechanisms through crafted XML-RPC requests that incorporate XSS sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the webmin-related attack vectors within the xmlrpc.cgi service, which serves as a communication endpoint for various administrative functions within the QRadar platform. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users, enabling them to execute unauthorized actions against the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the service's insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper CSRF token implementation, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and perform operations that should require explicit user consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to manipulate the SIEM environment in ways that could compromise security monitoring capabilities. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to inject malicious XSS sequences into the system, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of security operations. The vulnerability's presence in the xmlrpc.cgi service means that attackers can leverage this endpoint to perform administrative functions without proper authorization, undermining the integrity of the security monitoring platform.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the recommended IBM patches and interim fixes, specifically MR2 Patch 11 Interim Fix 02 for 7.1.x versions and Patch 4 for 7.2.x versions. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the xmlrpc.cgi endpoint, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious request patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing request validation controls and CSRF token mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their SIEM infrastructure.