CVE-2019-4545 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE • 10/09/2020
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 when configured to use Active Directory Authentication may be susceptible to spoofing attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 165877.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2020
IBM QRadar SIEM version 7.3 and 7.4 implementations that utilize Active Directory authentication present a significant security vulnerability allowing for spoofing attacks. This weakness stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the authentication process when integrating with Active Directory services, creating an avenue for malicious actors to potentially impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes authentication requests from Active Directory, failing to adequately verify the authenticity of user credentials or identity assertions. This flaw enables attackers to exploit the trust relationship between QRadar and Active Directory, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive security information and operational controls. The spoofing capability arises from the system's inability to properly validate the source and integrity of authentication tokens or user identity claims originating from the Active Directory infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the authentication module's insufficient input validation and identity verification processes. When QRadar receives authentication requests from Active Directory, the system does not perform adequate cryptographic validation or integrity checks on the authentication data. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle scenarios, credential replay attacks, or by manipulating authentication tokens to present false identities. The flaw operates at the authentication boundary where QRadar interfaces with Active Directory services, creating a trust exploitation opportunity that bypasses normal security controls. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, and potentially CWE-305 which covers authentication bypass through multiple attempts or manipulation of authentication data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential compromise of the entire SIEM infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this weakness could gain persistent access to critical security monitoring data, potentially leading to the concealment of malicious activities or the disruption of security operations. The compromise of Active Directory authentication integrity undermines the fundamental security model of QRadar's user access controls, enabling adversaries to escalate privileges and access sensitive system configurations. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on QRadar for security operations, as it could allow attackers to remain undetected while accessing security event data, logs, and configuration information. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that QRadar serves as a central security monitoring platform where unauthorized access could provide attackers with comprehensive visibility into network security events and potential attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced monitoring of authentication events, implementation of additional authentication layers, and verification of Active Directory integration configurations. The recommended approach involves configuring more robust authentication validation controls within QRadar's Active Directory integration settings, implementing stronger cryptographic validation of authentication tokens, and establishing comprehensive audit trails for authentication activities. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the QRadar system and Active Directory services, while ensuring that all authentication events are properly logged and monitored for suspicious patterns. According to ATT&CK framework references, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, requiring defensive measures that align with the T1078 and T1566 attack patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their QRadar configurations to identify and remediate similar authentication weaknesses that may exist in other integrated systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining proper authentication integrity in security infrastructure platforms where trust relationships with external authentication services can be exploited by sophisticated attackers.