CVE-2020-4787 in QRadar SIEM
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2021
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.4.2 GA to 7.4.2 Patch 1, 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 Patch 1, and 7.3.0 to 7.3.3 Patch 5 is vulnerable to server side request forgery (SSRF). This may allow an authenticated attacker to send unauthorized requests from the system, potentially leading to network enumeration or facilitating other attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 189224.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2021
IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.4.2 GA through 7.4.2 Patch 1, 7.4.0 through 7.4.1 Patch 1, and 7.3.0 through 7.3.3 Patch 5 contain a critical server side request forgery vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this security information and event management platform. This vulnerability falls under CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery flaws where attackers can manipulate the application to make requests to internal systems that would normally be inaccessible. The flaw exists in the authentication handling mechanisms of the QRadar platform, allowing an authenticated attacker to leverage the system's ability to communicate with internal network services to perform unauthorized operations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to bypass normal network segmentation controls and potentially access internal systems that should be protected from external access.
The technical implementation of this SSRF vulnerability allows an attacker who has already gained valid credentials to craft malicious requests that cause the QRadar system to make HTTP requests to arbitrary destinations within the internal network. This capability enables network enumeration activities where attackers can discover internal services, systems, and network topology information that would normally be hidden from external view. The attack vector leverages the legitimate functionality of QRadar's internal communication mechanisms, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. The vulnerability specifically affects the system's ability to properly validate and sanitize external request parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate the target of outbound requests. This flaw can be exploited to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure, potentially leading to more severe attacks such as privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a powerful tool for network reconnaissance and system discovery. Organizations using affected QRadar versions face the risk of unauthorized internal network mapping, which can reveal critical infrastructure components, database servers, application servers, and other sensitive systems. The vulnerability can be particularly damaging in environments where QRadar is used as a central security monitoring platform, as it provides attackers with information about the internal attack surface that could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks. The potential for this vulnerability to facilitate other attacks makes it especially dangerous, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more comprehensive compromise operations. According to IBM X-Force ID 189224, this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, demonstrating its practical threat level and the need for immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches and updates for all affected QRadar versions, as well as implementing network segmentation controls to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring rules to detect unusual outbound requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper input validation and parameter sanitization within the QRadar platform configuration can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Security teams should conduct thorough network audits to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred during the period when systems were vulnerable, and implement additional monitoring for anomalous behavior in the SIEM system itself. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical need for proper authentication controls in security platforms that may be used as attack vectors by sophisticated adversaries.