CVE-2016-2877 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7 uses weak permissions for unspecified directories under the web root, which allows local users to modify data by writing to a file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2877 affects IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7, representing a critical access control flaw within the security information and event management platform. This weakness stems from improper directory permissions that are established during the web root configuration, creating a pathway for local attackers to escalate their privileges and manipulate system data through simple file write operations. The affected directories contain sensitive components that should be protected from unauthorized modification but instead allow unrestricted write access to local users who may not possess elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weak discretionary access control mechanisms that fail to properly enforce file system permissions for web application directories. This misconfiguration allows local users to gain write access to critical system files and directories that are part of the QRadar web application infrastructure. The flaw operates at the operating system level where directory permissions are not correctly enforced, enabling attackers to modify application data, configuration files, or even inject malicious content into the web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, which specifically addresses the issue of inadequate access control mechanisms for system-critical components. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local system access but does not require network connectivity or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any user with access to the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on QRadar SIEM for security monitoring and incident response. Local attackers who can write to these directories can potentially modify log data, alter security policies, compromise forensic evidence, or even inject malicious code into the application. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as it undermines the integrity and reliability of the entire SIEM platform, potentially leading to false security alerts, missed threat detections, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's implications are particularly severe in environments where QRadar serves as a central security monitoring tool, as attackers could manipulate security events to hide malicious activities or disrupt security operations. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to modify security data and potentially establish persistence through file system manipulation. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and can be exploited to create backdoors or corrupt security data that would otherwise be protected from modification.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for both affected versions, specifically MR2 Patch 13 for 7.1 and 7.2.7 for 7.2, to resolve the directory permission issues. System administrators should also conduct thorough permission audits of the QRadar web root directories to ensure no other weak permissions exist, implementing proper access controls that align with security best practices and the principle of least privilege. Additional mitigations include monitoring for unauthorized file modifications in critical directories, implementing file integrity monitoring solutions, and ensuring that local user accounts are properly managed and restricted to minimize potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission management in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues can create significant security risks in security tools that are designed to protect against such threats. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security monitoring to detect and respond to unauthorized file system modifications that could indicate exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities.