CVE-2023-38736 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM QRadar WinCollect Agent 10.0 through 10.1.6 is vulnerable to a local escalation of privilege attack that could allow a normal user to gain SYSTEM permissions.

Understanding CVE-2023-38736

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in IBM QRadar WinCollect Agent that could lead to a significant impact if exploited.

What is CVE-2023-38736?

The vulnerability in IBM QRadar WinCollect Agent allows a local user to escalate privileges, potentially gaining access to critical SYSTEM permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38736

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. An attacker could gain elevated privileges, posing a serious risk to the system's security.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38736

The vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

IBM QRadar WinCollect Agent 10.0 through 10.1.6, when running as ADMIN or SYSTEM, exposes a flaw that enables a local escalation of privilege attack, potentially granting a standard user SYSTEM permissions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: QRadar WinCollect Agent
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 10.0 through 10.1.6

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires the WinCollect Agent to be installed to run as ADMIN or SYSTEM, providing the opportunity for a normal user to exploit the flaw and escalate privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Measures to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-38736.

Immediate Steps to Take

IBM users are advised to update the WinCollect Agent to a patched version to mitigate the privilege escalation risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users are granted only the necessary permissions to perform their tasks.
Regularly monitor and audit user privileges to detect unauthorized access attempts.

Patching and Updates

IBM has released patches to address the vulnerability in affected versions of QRadar WinCollect Agent. Users should promptly update to the patched versions to secure their systems.