CVE-2015-2016 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 MR2 before Patch 11 IF02 and 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 4 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
This vulnerability affects IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 MR2 before Patch 11 IF02 and 7.2.x before 7.2.5 Patch 4, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling within the SIEM platform's command processing mechanisms, creating a pathway for attackers to elevate their access rights beyond normal operational boundaries. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the system's architecture where authentication tokens or command parameters are not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a combination of command injection and privilege escalation techniques that exploit weaknesses in the QRadar platform's security model. Attackers can leverage their authenticated access to manipulate system commands through specially crafted inputs that bypass normal security controls, ultimately achieving root-level privileges without requiring additional exploitation techniques. This flaw specifically targets the platform's ability to handle user-supplied data within command execution contexts, allowing malicious payloads to be interpreted and executed with the highest system privileges. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple command execution to encompass complete system compromise, as root access provides unrestricted control over all system resources, files, and network interfaces.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on IBM QRadar SIEM for security monitoring and incident response. The remote execution capability means attackers can compromise systems without physical access or local network presence, while the root privilege escalation eliminates any remaining security boundaries within the platform. Security operations teams face the challenge of maintaining system integrity when attackers can effectively bypass all logging and monitoring controls, as the compromised system can manipulate audit trails and security configurations. The vulnerability directly impacts the platform's core security functions, potentially allowing attackers to disable security features, modify forensic data, or establish persistent backdoors within the environment. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete loss of security monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected IBM QRadar SIEM versions to the recommended security updates, specifically implementing Patch 11 IF02 for 7.1 MR2 systems and Patch 4 for 7.2.x versions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the SIEM platform's administrative interfaces. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust monitoring for unusual command execution patterns, establishing privileged access management controls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the platform's configuration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 and CWE-269 categories related to command injection and privilege escalation, respectively, and maps to ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through command execution and persistence mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain detailed forensic capabilities to detect potential compromise indicators.