CVE-2019-0374 in Business Intelligence Platform
Summary
by MITRE
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform (Web Intelligence HTML interface), before versions 4.2 and 4.3, does not sufficiently encode user-controlled inputs and allows execution of scripts in the chart title resulting in reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2020
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform represents a comprehensive business intelligence solution that enables organizations to analyze and visualize data through various reporting tools including Web Intelligence. The platform's Web Intelligence HTML interface serves as a primary user interaction point for creating and viewing reports, dashboards, and charts that display critical business metrics. This vulnerability specifically targets the chart title functionality within the HTML interface, exposing organizations to potential security risks through client-side attack vectors.
The technical flaw in CVE-2019-0374 manifests as insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the chart title rendering process. When users input data into chart titles, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness creates a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious payloads embedded in chart titles can be executed when other users view the affected charts. The vulnerability stems from the platform's inadequate handling of user-supplied data during the rendering process, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that business intelligence platforms typically contain sensitive organizational data and are accessed by multiple users with varying permission levels, this vulnerability could facilitate unauthorized data access or manipulation. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious payload must be delivered through a link or other means to trick users into clicking, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently share reports and dashboards.
Organizations utilizing SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform versions 4.2 or 4.3, which contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring user-generated content for suspicious patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, demonstrating the intersection of web application security and client-side attack vectors in enterprise business intelligence environments.