CVE-2018-1725 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE • 11/06/2020
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 n a multi tenant configuration could be vulnerable to information disclosure. IBM X-Force ID: 147440.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2020
IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3 and 7.4 operate in multi-tenant environments where multiple organizations or departments share the same system instance while maintaining separate data isolation. This configuration presents unique security challenges as the system must ensure complete separation of sensitive data between tenants. The vulnerability in question relates to insufficient access controls within the multi-tenant architecture that allows unauthorized data exposure between different tenant environments. This represents a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the fundamental security principle of data isolation in shared infrastructure deployments.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation mechanisms that fail to adequately enforce tenant boundaries when processing requests or retrieving data from the system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that bypass normal access controls, potentially accessing sensitive information belonging to other tenants within the same QRadar instance. The vulnerability specifically affects the data handling processes that manage cross-tenant communications and administrative functions, where the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize requests based on tenant context. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent complexity of multi-tenant architectures where shared resources must be carefully managed to maintain security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential compromise of entire multi-tenant deployments. Organizations utilizing QRadar SIEM in shared environments face significant risk of unauthorized access to confidential security data, including log files, correlation rules, and threat intelligence that may contain sensitive operational information. The vulnerability could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities across multiple tenant environments, potentially identifying security gaps in other organizations' deployments within the same system instance. This information disclosure threat directly impacts the integrity of the multi-tenant security model and could lead to compliance violations, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing enhanced access control mechanisms and strengthening tenant boundary enforcement within the QRadar SIEM environment. Organizations should apply the official IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability, while also implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous access patterns. Network segmentation and enhanced logging should be deployed to track cross-tenant data access attempts, with regular audits performed to verify proper tenant isolation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts for maintaining access within multi-tenant environments. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as data loss prevention measures and regular penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their tenant isolation mechanisms.