CVE-2015-7409 in Security QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.2.x before 7.2.6 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7409 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in IBM Security QRadar SIEM version 7.2.x prior to 7.2.6, exposing organizations to significant security risks through unauthorized code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects the web interface of the security information and event management platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for threat detection and security monitoring. The flaw resides in an unspecified field within the application's input validation mechanisms, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices that undermines the integrity of web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials to access the QRadar SIEM interface, making it a privilege escalation issue rather than a completely open attack vector. However, the impact remains severe as authenticated users can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the browser of other users who access the same SIEM interface. The injected scripts can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user within the SIEM environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where adversaries leverage browser-based scripting capabilities to maintain persistence and escalate privileges within the security infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because QRadar SIEM interfaces are typically accessed by security analysts and administrators who have elevated privileges and access to sensitive security data.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7409 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire security monitoring infrastructure. An attacker could use this vulnerability to create backdoors within the SIEM environment, manipulate security alerts, or exfiltrate sensitive information from the security events database. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the SIEM platform, which is designed to provide security monitoring and threat detection capabilities, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on QRadar for their cybersecurity operations. Organizations using QRadar SIEM in their security operations centers face the risk of attackers using this vulnerability to hide malicious activities from detection systems or to gain unauthorized access to security event data that may contain sensitive information about network activities and security incidents. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of security monitoring operations, potentially undermining the organization's ability to detect and respond to security threats effectively.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patch for QRadar SIEM version 7.2.6, which addresses the input validation issues that enable this cross-site scripting attack. Network segmentation and monitoring of user sessions can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the scope of potential attacks and enabling early detection of suspicious activities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests and monitor for suspicious script injection attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and OWASP Top Ten 2021. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can effectively respond to potential exploitation of this vulnerability, as the attack could result in significant compromise of security monitoring capabilities and potential data exfiltration from the SIEM environment.