CVE-2017-1486 in Cognos Business Intelligence
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Business Intelligence 10.2, 10.2.1, 10.2.1.1, and 10.2.2 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 X-Force ID: 128624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
IBM Cognos Business Intelligence versions 10.2 through 10.2.2 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly escape or encode user input before displaying it in web pages. When users interact with the business intelligence platform through web interfaces, any data entered into form fields, parameters, or other input mechanisms may be reflected back to the user without adequate security measures. This creates an opening for attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can manipulate the browser's behavior and access sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically affects the web user interface components that handle report parameters, search queries, and other interactive elements where user input is processed and displayed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions and access confidential business intelligence data. When a malicious script executes within a user's browser context, it can capture session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information that the user has entered into the application. This session hijacking capability represents a significant threat to enterprise security, particularly in environments where business intelligence platforms contain access to sensitive financial, operational, or strategic data. The vulnerability can be exploited to perform actions as authenticated users, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or exfiltration.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM Cognos Business Intelligence versions should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security updates. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter for JavaScript. Security measures should focus on implementing proper content security policies, input sanitization, and comprehensive web application firewalls to prevent malicious script injection. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications and ensure that all user input is properly validated and encoded before being rendered in the user interface. Regular patch management and security monitoring are essential to maintain protection against this and similar vulnerabilities in enterprise business intelligence platforms.