CVE-2016-2869 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the UI in IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted fields in a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2869 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the user interface of IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a classic XSS attack vector. The flaw exists in the web-based management interface of the security information and event management platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise security operations centers for threat detection and incident response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into URL parameters, which are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected pages. This occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability specifically affects fields within URL parameters that are processed by the QRadar UI components, enabling attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when visited by legitimate users with appropriate privileges, execute arbitrary JavaScript code. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, as the malicious scripts execute in the context of the victim's session with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on QRadar SIEM for security monitoring and incident response. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, access sensitive security data, or redirect users to malicious sites. Given that QRadar is typically deployed in security operations environments where users have elevated privileges and access to critical security information, the potential for lateral movement and data exfiltration increases substantially. The vulnerability affects the core web interface functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the security monitoring infrastructure itself. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment' and T1071.004 which covers 'Application Layer Protocol: DNS', as the attack vector involves web-based exploitation and the potential for further network reconnaissance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2.7 releases, which address the input validation issues in the affected UI components. Network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious URL patterns can provide additional detection capabilities, though this represents a reactive approach rather than a preventive solution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 2017 Category A03: Injection, which specifically addresses the need for proper input sanitization. Regular security assessments of web applications, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the security infrastructure. The patching process should be prioritized as a critical security measure, as the vulnerability requires no special privileges beyond legitimate user access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are more widely distributed than initially anticipated.