CVE-2018-1413 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 X-Force ID: 138819.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's response handling processes, allowing malicious actors to inject JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields or parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with maliciously crafted web content that contains embedded JavaScript payloads. These payloads can be delivered through various vectors including crafted report parameters, URL manipulation, or user-generated content fields within the analytics platform. When the vulnerable application processes and displays this malicious content without proper sanitization, the injected JavaScript executes within the victim's browser context, potentially compromising the integrity of the user session. The attack can be executed through various means such as phishing campaigns, compromised user accounts, or by leveraging other vulnerabilities that allow code injection into the application's input processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability particularly affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of IBM Cognos Analytics, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive business intelligence data. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability operates within the trusted session context, making it difficult for traditional network-based security controls to detect or prevent the malicious activity.
Organizations utilizing IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent JavaScript injection. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs and ensuring proper HTML encoding of dynamic content before rendering in the web interface. Security patches from IBM should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be considered a substitute for proper input validation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1531 for Account Access Removal, representing both code injection and session manipulation attack vectors that require layered defensive measures.