CVE-2016-2868 in Security QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.2.x before 7.2.7 allows remote authenticated administrators to read arbitrary files via XML data containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2868 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within IBM Security QRadar SIEM version 7.2.x before 7.2.7. This security weakness specifically affects remote authenticated administrators who can exploit the vulnerability through carefully crafted XML data containing external entity declarations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize XML content, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the system's XML parser behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security that has been consistently exploited in various security incidents.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability enables authenticated administrators to perform arbitrary file reads on the underlying system through XML data manipulation. When the system processes XML content containing external entity declarations, it inadvertently resolves these entities and can access files that should normally be restricted to authorized users only. This allows attackers to potentially extract sensitive information such as configuration files, user credentials, system logs, and other confidential data stored within the QRadar environment. The attack vector specifically involves constructing XML payloads that reference external entities pointing to local files, leveraging the XML parser's ability to resolve these references and return their contents to the attacker.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2868 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with significant reconnaissance capabilities and potential access to critical system resources. Organizations using affected QRadar versions face increased risk of data breaches, insider threat exploitation, and compromised security monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that attackers who have already gained administrative credentials can leverage this flaw to extract additional sensitive information from the system. This represents a significant escalation of privileges within the security monitoring environment, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire SIEM infrastructure and undermining the organization's ability to detect and respond to security incidents effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2868 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to upgrade to IBM Security QRadar SIEM 7.2.7 or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement XML input validation measures, including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers and implementing strict content filtering for all incoming XML data. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual XML processing activities can aid in detecting attempted exploitation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential XXE vulnerabilities in related systems and applications, as this type of flaw is commonly found across various software platforms and can provide attackers with similar access patterns and capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious file execution and T1078.004 for valid accounts, emphasizing the need for robust access controls and monitoring of administrative activities within security monitoring platforms.