High

Analysis Summary

IBM has disclosed a critical permission misconfiguration in its QRadar Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform, tracked as CVE-2025-0164. The flaw affects versions 7.5 through 7.5.0 UP13 IF01 and arises from CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. Although the assigned CVSS score is (low), the vulnerability poses notable risks since it allows privileged local users to alter sensitive configuration files without proper authorization.

The misconfiguration stems from improperly assigned file system permissions within QRadar, specifically in the /opt/qradar/conf directory, which houses critical configuration and logging policies. A local user with elevated privileges, such as a system administrator or support engineer, could exploit this flaw by modifying logging parameters, disabling detection rules, or altering system behavior. Attackers could further automate these unauthorized changes by scripting shell commands, thereby increasing the risk of persistent manipulation.

Such modifications could undermine the reliability of QRadar’s monitoring functions, masking malicious activity or disrupting incident response efforts. By tampering with audit logs and detection rules, attackers may create blind spots within an organization’s security posture, prolonging dwell time and enabling secondary malicious actions. Although exploitation requires privileged local access, the impact lies in eroding trust in a core security platform, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on QRadar for visibility and compliance.

IBM has addressed the issue by releasing QRadar 7.5.0 UP13 IF02, which restricts write access to configuration files exclusively to the QRadar service account. Administrators are strongly advised to apply this fix immediately using fix ID 7.5.0-QRADAR-QRSIEM-20250904123850INT, available through IBM Fix Central. Since no workaround exists for environments granting shell-level access to privileged users, organizations should enforce strict control over administrative accounts and actively monitor file integrity in the /opt/qradar/conf directory. Timely patching and robust access governance remain essential for safeguarding the integrity of security monitoring infrastructures.

Impact

• Information Disclosure

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2025-0164

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Refer to the IBM Security Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Limit local administrative and shell-level access to only trusted personnel.
• Continuously monitor changes in the /opt/qradar/conf directory for unauthorized modifications.
• Enforce strict role-based access controls (RBAC) to reduce unnecessary privileged accounts.
• Maintain timely updates and apply IBM-released fixes promptly across all QRadar deployments.
• Implement integrity monitoring and audit logging to detect and respond to suspicious configuration changes.