CVE-2014-0877 in Cognos TM1
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos TM1 10.2.0.2 before IF1 and 10.2.2.0 before IF1 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by visiting the Rights page and then following a generated link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0877 affects IBM Cognos TM1 versions 10.2.0.2 prior to IF1 and 10.2.2.0 prior to IF1, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security architecture of the enterprise performance management platform. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the TM1 web application, specifically impacting how the system handles user rights and access permissions. The flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to bypass intended access restrictions through a carefully crafted sequence of actions involving the Rights page functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of access controls within the TM1 web interface. When users navigate to the Rights page and subsequently follow a generated link, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and authorization status of the requesting entity. This creates a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to restricted functionality within the TM1 environment. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where TM1 serves as a critical business intelligence platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it potentially allows attackers to manipulate financial data, view sensitive business intelligence, and compromise the integrity of the entire TM1 system. Given that TM1 is commonly used for financial planning and analysis, the consequences of unauthorized access could result in significant financial losses, regulatory violations, and damage to organizational reputation. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on TM1 for critical business operations, particularly those in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government sectors. Security incidents resulting from this flaw could lead to compliance violations under standards such as SOX, HIPAA, or GDPR, depending on the industry and data types involved.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security fixes and interim fixes, reviewing and tightening access controls, and monitoring for suspicious activities in TM1 logs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit potential damage, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in the broader IT infrastructure. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the applied patches to ensure no disruption to legitimate business operations while maintaining the security posture of the TM1 environment.