CVE-2016-2876 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7 executes unspecified processes at an incorrect privilege level, which makes it easier for remote authenticated users to obtain root access by leveraging a command-injection issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7 contain a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from improper privilege handling during process execution. This vulnerability manifests when the system executes unspecified processes at an incorrect privilege level, creating a pathway for remote authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges to root access. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it combines with a command injection vulnerability to provide attackers with elevated system access. The vulnerability falls under CWE-276 which specifically addresses incorrect privilege assignment, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness by first establishing a remote authenticated session and then exploiting the command injection flaw to inject malicious commands that execute with elevated privileges, bypassing normal access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the system's failure to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries when executing certain processes. When authenticated users submit commands or data that trigger internal system processes, the application does not correctly maintain the privilege context required for secure execution. This misconfiguration allows commands that should execute with restricted privileges to instead run with elevated permissions, potentially including root-level access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core system components that handle user authentication and process management. The privilege escalation occurs at the operating system level where the application fails to properly drop privileges or maintain proper access controls during critical operations, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors who have already gained authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise. Once an attacker achieves root access through this vulnerability, they can modify system configurations, install malicious software, access all system data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire QRadar SIEM environment, as it allows attackers to manipulate log data, alter security policies, and potentially hide their activities from detection systems. Organizations using affected versions of QRadar SIEM face significant risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruption. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the system since attackers could potentially cause system instability or perform denial-of-service attacks through the elevated privileges they gain. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in security monitoring environments where system reliability and data integrity are paramount.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant security patches provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. The patching process should include verification of the installed versions against IBM's security advisories and testing of the updates in non-production environments before deployment. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to minimize the potential impact if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The mitigation strategy should include regular vulnerability assessments and security audits to identify similar privilege-related issues within the broader IT infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and establishing strict monitoring protocols for system processes that handle user input, particularly those that might be susceptible to command injection or privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper privilege management in enterprise security systems.