CVE-2013-0501 in Cognos Disclosure Management
Summary
by MITRE
The EdrawSoft EDOFFICE.EDOfficeCtrl.1 ActiveX control, as used in Edraw Office Viewer Component, the client in IBM Cognos Disclosure Management (CDM) 10.2.0, and other products, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files, or download an arbitrary program onto a client machine and execute this program, via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0501 resides within the EdrawSoft EDOFFICE.EDOfficeCtrl.1 ActiveX control, a component that has been integrated into various enterprise applications including IBM Cognos Disclosure Management version 10.2.0. This particular ActiveX control represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit client systems through malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the ActiveX control implementation, creating a pathway for arbitrary file operations and remote code execution. The affected systems are particularly at risk when users browse websites that host malicious content designed to leverage this vulnerability, as the control operates with elevated privileges within the browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the ActiveX control's file handling mechanisms, which allows attackers to perform unauthorized file read operations on the victim's system. This capability extends beyond simple file enumeration to include the ability to download and execute arbitrary programs on the client machine. The underlying flaw manifests in the control's failure to properly validate file paths and operations, enabling attackers to specify arbitrary file locations and perform operations that should be restricted to authorized users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-74, which addresses injection flaws, particularly in the context of file operations within ActiveX controls. The control's implementation lacks proper sandboxing and privilege separation, allowing malicious operations to execute with the same permissions as the legitimate user.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to enterprise environments that utilize affected software components, particularly in scenarios where users may encounter untrusted web content. The attack vector typically involves phishing campaigns or compromised websites that deliver malicious JavaScript code designed to invoke the vulnerable ActiveX control. Once executed, the control can read sensitive files from the local system, potentially exposing confidential data, credentials, or system information. The remote code execution capability further amplifies the risk, as attackers can deploy malware, backdoors, or additional exploit payloads directly onto the compromised system. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the control to execute arbitrary commands on the target system.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate exploitation to include long-term security implications for organizations using affected software. Enterprise users who browse the internet or access untrusted websites become potential victims, as the attack requires no special privileges or complex preconditions beyond user interaction with malicious content. The vulnerability affects a wide range of products that incorporate the EdrawSoft ActiveX control, creating a broad attack surface that spans multiple vendors and applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, implementing strict browser security policies, and deploying network-level protections to block access to known malicious domains. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining updated software versions that may contain patches for this vulnerability. The remediation efforts should also include comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected ActiveX control within the organization's software ecosystem, as well as implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized ActiveX control execution.