Understanding the Importance of QID Mapping in IBM QRadar SIEM
IBM QRadar is one of the leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms used by organizations to monitor, detect, and respond to security threats. A fundamental component of QRadar’s functionality is QID Mapping (QIDMAP), which standardizes and normalizes log events across various sources.
In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of QID Mapping and walk through a practical example to illustrate how it works.
What is QID Mapping in QRadar?
QID Mapping involves assigning a QRadar Identifier (QID) to incoming events, enabling QRadar to normalize and categorize them. This process ensures consistency across logs from different sources, allowing QRadar to analyze, correlate, and alert on security incidents effectively. For example, a "failed login attempt" from a Windows server and a Linux server might have different raw log formats. Through QID Mapping, QRadar assigns them a single QID, such as ‘28250001’, representing "Authentication Failure." This standardization allows QRadar to detect patterns and generate alerts accurately.
Why is QID Mapping Important?
- Event Normalization:
- Converts diverse log formats into a standardized structure.
- Facilitates seamless integration of various log sources.
· Efficient Correlation:
- Enables QRadar to recognize patterns across devices and applications.
- Helps in detecting complex threats through correlation rules.
- Accurate Search and Reporting:
- Makes it easier for analysts to query specific events.
- Provides consistency in dashboards and reports.
- Custom Log Source Support:
- Ensures proper integration of custom or unsupported log sources by manually creating QID mappings.
- Enhanced Threat Detection:
- Minimizes false positives and ensures important alerts are not missed.
Practical Example:
Configuring QID Mapping in QRadar
Let’s walk through a hands-on example of QID Mapping in QRadar, using a custom log source.
Scenario:
Your organization is onboarding a new application that generates logs in a non-standard format. These logs include events like "User Login Failed" or "Access Denied." QRadar doesn’t recognize this log source, and you need to configure QID Mapping to normalize these events
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Review the Raw Log Format
Obtain sample logs from the application.
For example:
- <180>SSLVPN: id=sslvpn sn=0000 time="2013-09-30 14:45:38" vp_time="2013-09-30 13:45:38 UTC" fw=10.0.0.1 pri=4 m=1 c=1 src=10.0.0.2 dst=10.0.0.3 user="testUser" usr="testUser" msg="User login failed"
- 2024-11-25 10:25:00 - FileAccess - DENY - File: /secure/docs/file.txt
Step 2: Identify the DSM and Log Source Type
- Determine if the application has an existing DSM (Device Support Module) in QRadar. If not, you need to create custom Log Source Type. Which will be used to parse and categorize this unparsed events.
- Add the new log source under Admin > Log Sources and specify the log source type (e.g., Universal DSM).
Step 3: Create Custom QID Mapping
- Navigate to QID Mapping Configuration:
- Go to Admin > DSM Editor.
- Select the log source type you created earlier.
- Define Event Properties:
- Extract key fields from the log (e.g., ‘User login failed’ and ‘FileAccess’) using regex patterns.
- Map these fields to QRadar standard properties such as ‘Event Name’, ‘Username’ etc.
- Assign QIDs:
- For "User login failed," assign a QID like ‘1002250002’ (General Authentication Failed).
Test the Mapping
- Send sample logs to QRadar using a test tool like Logrun.pl or Syslog.
- Verify that the events are categorized correctly in Log Activity.
Best Practices for managing QID Mapping
- Keep Mappings Updated:
- Regularly update QID mappings as log source formats or new event types emerge.
- Leverage Regex:
- Use precise regex patterns to extract key information from raw logs.
- Document Custom Mappings:
- Maintain documentation for custom QID mappings for easier troubleshooting and knowledge transfer.
- Test in a Non-Production Environment:
- Always test new mappings in a staging environment to avoid disrupting live operations.
Conclusion
QID Mapping is a vital feature in QRadar that ensures logs from various sources are normalized and ready for effective analysis. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can confidently onboard new log sources, create custom QID mappings, and enhance the accuracy of QRadar's detection and reporting capabilities. With proper QID Mapping, you can unlock the full potential of QRadar, enabling your security team to detect threats faster, reduce noise, and focus on critical incidents.