CVE-2025-15051: IBM QRadar SIEM XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15051 Overview

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.5.0 through 7.5.0 Update Package 14 contains a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows authenticated users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI. This vulnerability can alter the intended functionality of the application, potentially enabling attackers to steal session tokens, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect users to malicious sites.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can inject malicious JavaScript into the QRadar SIEM Web UI, potentially compromising the integrity of security monitoring operations and enabling session hijacking of privileged security analysts.

Affected Products

• IBM QRadar SIEM 7.5.0
• IBM QRadar SIEM 7.5.0 Update Package 1 through Update Package 14

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-19 - CVE-2025-15051 published to NVD
• 2026-03-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15051

Vulnerability Analysis

This cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79) in IBM QRadar SIEM allows authenticated users to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the Web UI. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, as a victim must navigate to or interact with a page containing the injected malicious script. The attack can cross security boundaries, potentially allowing an attacker operating within QRadar to impact resources beyond the vulnerable component itself.

The vulnerability affects the core web interface of QRadar SIEM, which is a critical security monitoring platform used by security operations centers (SOCs) worldwide. Successful exploitation could undermine the integrity of security monitoring operations by allowing attackers to manipulate what security analysts see or capture their credentials.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of user-supplied input before it is rendered in web pages (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The QRadar Web UI fails to adequately sanitize or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated HTML content, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of other users' browser sessions.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires an authenticated attacker with low privileges. The attacker must craft malicious input containing JavaScript code and inject it into a vulnerable field or parameter within the QRadar interface. When another user (typically a security analyst with higher privileges) views the affected page, the malicious JavaScript executes within their browser session.

Exploitation scenarios include:

• Injecting scripts that capture session tokens and send them to attacker-controlled servers
• Modifying the displayed security alerts to hide malicious activity
• Performing actions within QRadar on behalf of the victim user
• Redirecting users to phishing pages masquerading as the QRadar login

For detailed technical information regarding this vulnerability, refer to the IBM Support Page.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15051

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected JavaScript execution or browser behavior when accessing QRadar Web UI
• Unusual network requests from QRadar user sessions to external domains
• Modified or tampered alert displays that don't match backend data
• Suspicious entries in QRadar audit logs showing script-like content in user input fields

Detection Strategies

• Monitor QRadar web server logs for requests containing suspicious script tags or encoded JavaScript payloads
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to detect and block inline script execution
• Review user input fields and parameters for encoded script content (<script>, javascript:, event handlers)
• Use web application firewalls (WAF) to detect and alert on XSS attack patterns targeting QRadar

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on QRadar web application components to capture suspicious input patterns
• Configure browser-based XSS auditing and monitor for triggered alerts
• Implement network monitoring to detect unusual outbound connections from QRadar user workstations
• Review QRadar user activity logs for anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate compromised sessions

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15051

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest security update from IBM for QRadar SIEM (versions beyond Update Package 14)
• Review QRadar user accounts and audit recent activity for signs of compromise
• Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential session hijacking
• Educate SOC analysts about the risk of clicking suspicious links within QRadar

Patch Information

IBM has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to a patched version of IBM QRadar SIEM beyond 7.5.0 Update Package 14. Detailed patch information and download instructions are available from the IBM Support Page.

Workarounds

• Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent inline script execution
• Use web application firewalls with XSS filtering rules in front of QRadar deployments
• Restrict QRadar Web UI access to trusted networks and VPN connections only
• Enforce multi-factor authentication for QRadar users to reduce the impact of session hijacking

# Example CSP header configuration for web server (Apache)
# Add to QRadar reverse proxy configuration
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data:; frame-ancestors 'self';"