CVE-2020-4789 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3.0, 7.4.0, 7.3.3 Patch 5, 7.4.1 Patch 1, 7.4.2.GA, and 7.4.2 Patch 1 are affected by a directory traversal vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to view arbitrary files on the system.

Understanding CVE-2020-4789

IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3.0 to 7.3.3 Patch 5, 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 Patch 1, and 7.4.2 GA to 7.4.2 Patch 1 are susceptible to a directory traversal exploit.

What is CVE-2020-4789?

This CVE refers to a vulnerability in IBM QRadar SIEM that enables an attacker to traverse directories on the system using specially-crafted URL requests.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4789

CVSS Base Score: 6.5 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Confidentiality Impact: High
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
An attacker can view arbitrary files on the system by exploiting this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4789

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to traverse directories on the affected IBM QRadar SIEM versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3.0
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.4.0
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3.3 Patch 5
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.4.1 Patch 1
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.4.2.GA
IBM QRadar SIEM 7.4.2 Patch 1

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending a specially-crafted URL request with "dot dot" sequences (/../), an attacker can exploit the vulnerability to access arbitrary files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual file access or system behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM QRadar SIEM to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

IBM has released patches to mitigate the vulnerability in the affected versions of QRadar SIEM.