CVE-2016-6077 in Cognos Disclosure Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Disclosure Management 10.2 could allow a malicious attacker to execute commands as a lower privileged user that opens a malicious document. IBM Reference #: 1991584.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
IBM Cognos Disclosure Management version 10.2 contains a command execution vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation when processing malicious documents. This flaw exists in the document parsing functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before executing any embedded commands. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a lower privileged user opens a specially crafted document that contains malicious code. Attackers can exploit this weakness by embedding executable commands within document metadata or content fields that are processed by the application. The root cause aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code. This vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the victim user, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a victim to open a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently exchange documents. The operational impact includes potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and privilege escalation within the organization's information technology infrastructure. Organizations using IBM Cognos Disclosure Management 10.2 should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. Additional mitigations include user education programs to recognize suspicious documents, email filtering solutions to block malicious attachments, and monitoring for unusual document access patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk that could be exploited by adversaries seeking to gain unauthorized access to corporate information systems. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code within the application environment. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise applications. The patching process should be prioritized as a critical security measure to prevent exploitation of this command execution flaw that could compromise the entire enterprise information infrastructure.
The vulnerability in IBM Cognos Disclosure Management 10.2 demonstrates how document processing applications can become attack vectors for command execution attacks. When users open malicious documents, the application's failure to validate input data creates opportunities for attackers to inject and execute harmful code. This particular weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of document elements, allowing attackers to craft documents that contain embedded commands designed to execute in the context of the user's privileges. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-74 and CWE-94 highlights the fundamental security issues in data handling and code generation within the application. From a security perspective, this represents a critical flaw that could enable attackers to move laterally within networks and access sensitive corporate information. The attack requires minimal technical sophistication from the adversary, relying primarily on social engineering to deliver malicious documents to unsuspecting users. Organizations that have not yet applied the IBM security patch for this vulnerability remain at significant risk of compromise. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual document processing activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The security implications extend beyond immediate command execution to include potential data exfiltration and system compromise. This vulnerability exemplifies why regular security updates and comprehensive vulnerability management programs are essential for enterprise security. The targeted nature of the attack makes it particularly challenging to defend against, as it requires user interaction to initiate exploitation. Security teams should implement layered defenses including email security controls, endpoint protection, and user awareness training to address this type of threat effectively. The presence of such vulnerabilities underscores the importance of secure coding practices and thorough input validation in enterprise applications.