CVE-2016-2881 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.1 before MR2 Patch 13 and 7.2 before 7.2.7 and QRadar Incident Forensics 7.2 before 7.2.7 allow remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via modified request parameters.
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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, along with QRadar Incident Forensics 7.2 before 7.2.7, contain a critical access control vulnerability that enables remote attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions through manipulation of request parameters. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the QRadar platform, specifically within the web application layer that processes user requests and validates access permissions. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters in API calls and web interface requests, allowing malicious actors to craft modified requests that bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation and inadequate access control checks within the QRadar web services. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting legitimate API requests or crafting malicious requests with modified parameters that manipulate the intended access control flow. This type of vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authorization mechanisms and falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive data, forensic capabilities, and administrative functions within the QRadar environment, potentially enabling attackers to view, modify, or delete critical security information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to critical security infrastructure. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability from any network location without requiring physical access or valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where QRadar systems are deployed. The compromised access could enable attackers to view sensitive security events, modify forensic data, access administrative functions, and potentially establish persistent access to the SIEM environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of security monitoring data, undermining the fundamental purpose of SIEM systems in providing security visibility and threat detection. Organizations using affected QRadar versions face significant risk of data breaches, insider threat exploitation, and compromised security posture.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant security patches provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to QRadar SIEM 7.1 MR2 Patch 13, QRadar SIEM 7.2.7, or QRadar Incident Forensics 7.2.7, which contain the necessary fixes for the access control bypass issue. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to QRadar systems from untrusted networks, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous access patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive access control reviews and implement additional authentication layers where possible. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on QRadar for security operations. The incident response plan should include specific procedures for detecting and responding to unauthorized access attempts, including log analysis for suspicious parameter modifications and access control violations.