CVE-2016-3031 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM Reference #: 1998887.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2020
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where malicious scripts can be injected into trusted websites. The flaw specifically affects the web user interface components of the analytics platform, allowing authenticated users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code within the application's interface. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a trusted session context, meaning that the malicious code can execute with the privileges and permissions of the authenticated user, potentially compromising the entire session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the Cognos Analytics interface by injecting malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive information. The attack typically occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web interface. Since the vulnerability exists in the web UI layer, it can be triggered through various input points such as report parameters, user-defined content, or configuration settings that are subsequently displayed to other users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the injected JavaScript can perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even modifying data within the analytics environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the analytics platform, allowing them to monitor user activities, extract confidential reports, or manipulate analytical data. The trusted session aspect of this vulnerability means that the malicious code operates with the full trust of the application, making it particularly difficult to detect and mitigate. Organizations relying on Cognos Analytics for critical business intelligence and reporting may face severe consequences including data breaches, regulatory violations, and loss of competitive advantage if this vulnerability is exploited.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to address this vulnerability, starting with applying the official IBM security patches and updates released to address CVE-2016-3031. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks, along with regular security assessments of the web interface components. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script patterns in HTTP traffic. Additionally, organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring of user activities within the Cognos Analytics environment to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through web-based attacks. Regular security awareness training for users and administrators is essential to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all user activities within the analytics platform.