CVE-2016-9724 in QRadar
Summary
by MITRE
IBM QRadar 7.2 is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) error when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose highly sensitive information or consume all available memory resources. IBM Reference #: 1999537.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9724 represents a critical security flaw in IBM QRadar version 7.2, specifically manifesting as an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) vulnerability. This weakness occurs during the processing of XML data within the system's architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the platform's XML parser functionality. The XXE vulnerability stems from the system's improper handling of external entity references within XML documents, allowing attackers to manipulate how the parser resolves external resources and potentially execute unauthorized operations.
This vulnerability operates through the exploitation of XML processing mechanisms where the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize external entity declarations in incoming XML data. When QRadar processes XML content containing malicious external entity references, the parser attempts to resolve these entities, potentially leading to information disclosure or resource exhaustion. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can submit XML data to the vulnerable system. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-611 indicates it falls under the category of improper restriction of XML external entity reference, a well-documented weakness that has been exploited in numerous security incidents across various platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass serious data exposure risks. An attacker exploiting this XXE vulnerability could potentially access sensitive system information, including system files, configuration data, or other confidential information stored within the QRadar environment. The memory consumption aspect of the vulnerability presents a significant threat as it could lead to complete system unavailability through resource exhaustion, effectively rendering the security monitoring platform non-operational during critical security events. This disruption directly impacts the organization's ability to detect and respond to security incidents, creating a cascading effect on overall security posture and incident response capabilities.
Organizations utilizing IBM QRadar 7.2 should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available patches provided by IBM, as the vulnerability represents a high-severity risk to system availability and data confidentiality. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict XML input validation and sanitization procedures, disabling external entity processing in XML parsers, and establishing network-level controls to restrict access to vulnerable XML processing endpoints. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous XML processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving denial of service and information disclosure, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access through system disruption or data exfiltration. Organizations should also review their input validation controls and ensure proper XML parser configuration to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their security infrastructure.