CVE-2025-33117: Privileged User Vulnerability in IBM QRadar SIEM

Overview

In the constantly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it’s critical to stay updated on the latest vulnerabilities that could potentially affect your systems. One such vulnerability is CVE-2025-33117, which involves IBM’s QRadar SIEM 7.5 through 7.5.0 Update Package 12. This vulnerability could allow a privileged user to manipulate configuration files, consequently enabling the upload of a malicious autoupdate file to execute arbitrary commands.
This vulnerability is significant because it opens the door for a potential system compromise or data leakage. It’s especially concerning since it affects any organization or individual using the affected versions of IBM QRadar SIEM, a widely-used security information and event management system.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-33117
Severity: Critical (9.1 CVSS Severity Score)
Attack Vector: Local access
Privileges Required: High (privileged user access)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

IBM QRadar SIEM | 7.5 through 7.5.0 Update Package 12

How the Exploit Works

The exploit works by taking advantage of a loophole in IBM QRadar SIEM’s configuration file permissions. A privileged user can manipulate these files and create a path for uploading a malicious autoupdate file. Once this file is uploaded, it can execute arbitrary commands on the system, leading to a potential system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

# Gain privileged access
sudo su
# Navigate to the configuration files
cd /etc/qradar
# Modify the configuration file to allow malicious autoupdate file upload
echo 'allow_malicious_updates = true' >> config.ini
# Upload the malicious autoupdate file
curl -X POST -H 'Content-Type: multipart/form-data' -F 'update=@malicious_file' http://localhost:8080/api/update

This example demonstrates using privileged access to modify the QRadar configuration files and then upload a malicious autoupdate file that, once activated, could execute arbitrary commands.

Recommended Mitigation Strategies

The best mitigation strategy is to apply the vendor patch as soon as it is available. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. Regularly monitoring system logs and user activities can also help identify any unusual or suspicious activity.