CVE-2020-4932 – IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3 and 7.4 contain ha... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2020-4932?

CVE-2020-4932 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3 and 7.4 contain hard-coded credentials that could allow attackers to authenticate to the system, communicate with external components, or decrypt internal data. This affects organizations using these vulnerable QRadar versions for security monitoring. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data and system controls.

📋 TL;DR

IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.3 and 7.4 contain hard-coded credentials that could allow attackers to authenticate to the system, communicate with external components, or decrypt internal data. This affects organizations using these vulnerable QRadar versions for security monitoring. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data and system controls.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

IBM QRadar SIEM

Versions: 7.3.x and 7.4.x

Operating Systems: Linux-based QRadar appliances

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All deployments of affected versions contain the hard-coded credentials by default. No special configuration required for exploitation.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete compromise of the SIEM system allowing attackers to access all monitored security data, manipulate alerts and logs, pivot to other systems, and disable security monitoring capabilities.

🟠

Likely Case

Unauthorized access to sensitive security event data, potential credential theft from monitored systems, and manipulation of security alerts to hide malicious activity.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent external access to QRadar interfaces and internal communication channels.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH if QRadar management interfaces are exposed to the internet, as hard-coded credentials could be discovered and exploited remotely.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH as internal attackers or compromised internal systems could exploit the hard-coded credentials to access the SIEM system.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

While no public exploit code is confirmed, hard-coded credential vulnerabilities are typically easy to exploit once the credentials are discovered. Attackers would need to identify the specific hard-coded credentials used.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Apply IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3.3 Patch 6 or 7.4.3 Patch 5

Vendor Advisory: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6449682

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download the appropriate patch from IBM Fix Central. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Apply patch using QRadar console. 4. Restart QRadar services. 5. Verify patch installation and system functionality.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Segmentation

all

Isolate QRadar systems from untrusted networks and implement strict firewall rules to limit access to QRadar interfaces.

Credential Rotation

all

If possible, manually change any credentials that might be hard-coded, though this may break functionality and is not officially supported.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict network access controls to limit who can reach QRadar management interfaces
Monitor for unusual authentication attempts or access patterns to QRadar systems

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check QRadar version via Admin tab > System and License Management > Deployment Status. If version is 7.3.x (before 7.3.3 Patch 6) or 7.4.x (before 7.4.3 Patch 5), system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

ssh to QRadar console and run: /opt/qradar/bin/myver

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify patch installation via Admin tab > System and License Management > Installed Patches. Confirm 7.3.3 Patch 6 or 7.4.3 Patch 5 is listed.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual authentication patterns to QRadar services
Access from unexpected IP addresses or user accounts
Failed login attempts followed by successful logins

Network Indicators:

Unexpected network traffic to/from QRadar systems
Authentication attempts using default or hard-coded credentials

SIEM Query:

Note: This query would need to be run on a separate monitoring system, not the vulnerable QRadar itself. Example: 'sourceIP=[QRadar_IP] AND (eventType=Authentication OR eventType=Access) AND result=Success AND user contains known hard-coded patterns'

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2020-4932

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-798

Published: May 5, 2021

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/191748 VDB Entry,Vendor Advisory
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6449682 Vendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/191748 VDB Entry,Vendor Advisory
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6449682 Vendor Advisory

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2020-4932, you might also want to check these:

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

Qradar Security Information And Event Manager by Ibm

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Segmentation

Credential Rotation

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities