CVE-2017-1784 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 could produce results in temporary files that contain highly sensitive information that can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 136858.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 contains a critical security vulnerability that allows local users to access highly sensitive information stored in temporary files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper file handling mechanisms within the application's temporary file creation and management processes. The flaw enables unauthorized local users to read temporary files that contain confidential data, potentially exposing sensitive business intelligence, financial information, or proprietary analytics that should remain protected within the system's secure boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms. When IBM Cognos Analytics generates temporary files during processing operations, these files are created with overly permissive access controls that allow any local user account to read their contents. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in file system management. The vulnerability exists because the application does not properly implement file-level access controls or utilize secure temporary file creation methods that would prevent unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0, as it creates an attack surface that allows local privilege escalation and data exfiltration. An attacker with local access to a system running Cognos Analytics could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive business data, potentially including customer information, financial records, strategic analytics, or other proprietary business intelligence. This threat is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users share systems and where the application may process highly confidential data sets. The vulnerability essentially undermines the confidentiality controls that organizations rely on to protect their analytical data.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also review and tighten file permissions on temporary directories used by the application, ensuring that temporary files are created with restrictive access controls and are properly cleaned up after use. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of temporary file access patterns can help detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1005 for Data from Local System and T1074 for Data Staged, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. The remediation approach should include both immediate patch deployment and long-term process improvements to ensure proper temporary file handling practices are maintained across all applications and systems within the enterprise environment.