CVE-2015-4930 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
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 by leveraging admin access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4930 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 MR2 and earlier, as well as 7.2.x versions before 7.2.5 Patch 4. This security weakness specifically targets the administrative access controls of the QRadar platform, enabling authenticated remote attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands with root-level permissions. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and privilege handling mechanisms within the system's command execution pathways, creating a dangerous attack vector that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of administrative interfaces and command processing functions within QRadar's architecture. Attackers with legitimate administrative accounts can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges beyond the intended administrative scope, gaining full root access to the underlying operating system. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, specifically addressing improper privileges and access control enforcement. The attack vector requires only network connectivity and existing administrative credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without additional authentication requirements.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4930 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the QRadar appliance and its underlying infrastructure. Once root access is obtained, adversaries can modify system configurations, install malicious software, access all stored data including sensitive security event logs, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network components. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of security monitoring capabilities that organizations rely upon for threat detection and incident response.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 MR2 through Patch 11 IF02 and 7.2.x through Patch 4. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect suspicious administrative activities and command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough access reviews to ensure only authorized personnel maintain administrative privileges and implement additional monitoring controls around critical system commands. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged for persistence and lateral movement within compromised environments, making it a critical target for immediate remediation to maintain the integrity of security monitoring infrastructure.