CVE-2016-0381 in Cognos TM1
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos TM1 10.2.2 before FP5, when the host/pmhub/pm/admin AdminGroups setting is empty, allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (configuration outage) via a non-empty value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
IBM Cognos TM1 version 10.2.2 prior to fix pack 5 contains a configuration vulnerability that can lead to denial of service conditions when specific administrative settings are improperly managed. This vulnerability specifically affects the host/pmhub/pm/admin AdminGroups configuration parameter, which when left empty creates a scenario where authenticated remote attackers can exploit the system by providing a non-empty value to trigger a service outage. The flaw represents a classic configuration management issue that demonstrates poor input validation and handling of administrative parameters within the TM1 application framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the AdminGroups setting within the TM1 administrative subsystem. When the AdminGroups parameter is configured as empty, the system fails to properly handle subsequent requests that attempt to populate this field with valid data. This creates a condition where legitimate administrative operations can be disrupted by malicious or unauthorized users who have authenticated access to the system. The vulnerability operates at the configuration layer rather than at the application logic level, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise the entire administrative infrastructure of the TM1 environment. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-200, which covers improper handling of configuration settings, and CWE-400, which addresses issues related to resource management and denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of the entire TM1 administrative environment. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete configuration outages that may require manual intervention to restore proper system functionality. Organizations relying on TM1 for business intelligence and planning operations face significant business continuity risks when this vulnerability is present, as the denial of service can affect critical reporting and analytics capabilities. The remote nature of the attack means that unauthorized users can exploit this weakness without physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple users have administrative privileges. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, which addresses malicious file execution through social engineering, as the attack can be initiated through legitimate administrative interfaces.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying IBM fix pack 5 to address the underlying configuration handling issue, implementing strict administrative access controls to limit who can modify critical configuration parameters, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unusual changes to administrative settings. The recommended approach involves verifying that all administrative configuration parameters are properly validated before being applied to the system, and implementing automated checks to ensure that critical settings maintain their intended values. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and establish regular configuration audits to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper configuration management practices and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of administrative interfaces to prevent similar issues in other enterprise applications.