CVE-2025-0164 is a vulnerability identified in IBM QRadar SIEM versions 7.5 through 7.5 Update Pack 13 Independent Fix 01. The issue stems from incorrect permission assignments on critical configuration files within the QRadar SIEM platform. Specifically, local users with privileged access on the host system may exploit this misconfiguration to perform unauthorized actions on these configuration files. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-732, which refers to improper permission assignment for critical resources. This means that the system fails to restrict access appropriately, potentially allowing privilege escalation or unauthorized modification of configuration data. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 2.3, indicating a low severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and high privileges (PR:H), with no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:L) with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes are currently linked in the provided data. QRadar SIEM is a widely used security information and event management platform, critical for monitoring and analyzing security events in enterprise environments. Improper permission settings on configuration files could allow a privileged local user to read sensitive configuration details, potentially exposing internal system settings or credentials, which could be leveraged in further attacks or lateral movement within the network. However, since the vulnerability requires already high privileges and local access, the risk is somewhat contained. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict file permission management on security-critical systems to prevent unauthorized access even from privileged users who may not have full administrative rights.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-0164 is generally limited due to the low severity and the requirement for local privileged access. However, given that IBM QRadar SIEM is a core component in many enterprise security infrastructures across Europe, any unauthorized access to configuration files could expose sensitive security configurations, such as log sources, correlation rules, or integration credentials. This exposure could weaken the overall security posture by enabling attackers or malicious insiders to understand or manipulate the SIEM environment indirectly. In regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors prevalent in Europe, even low-severity vulnerabilities can have compliance implications if they lead to unauthorized data exposure. Moreover, the presence of this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack chain, especially in environments where local privileged users are not tightly controlled. The confidentiality impact, while limited, could facilitate reconnaissance or privilege escalation attempts if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Therefore, European organizations relying on QRadar SIEM should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning, especially in high-security environments.

To mitigate CVE-2025-0164 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Conduct a thorough audit of file permissions on all QRadar SIEM configuration files to ensure they adhere to the principle of least privilege, restricting access strictly to necessary system administrators. 2) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on hosts running QRadar SIEM to limit local privileged user accounts and enforce strong authentication and authorization policies. 3) Use host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) or file integrity monitoring (FIM) tools to detect unauthorized changes to configuration files promptly. 4) Regularly review and update QRadar SIEM software to the latest versions and patches once IBM releases fixes addressing this vulnerability. 5) Employ network segmentation and isolation for SIEM infrastructure to reduce the risk of local privilege misuse spreading laterally. 6) Train system administrators and privileged users on secure operational practices and the risks associated with improper permission assignments. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and penetration testing programs to verify that permissions are correctly configured and that no unauthorized access is possible.