CVE-2019-4178 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Analytics 11 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request to write or view arbitrary files on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 158919.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
IBM Cognos Analytics 11 contains a directory traversal vulnerability that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying system through specially crafted URL requests. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation in the application's handling of file paths, allowing malicious actors to manipulate request parameters to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects the web application's file access mechanisms, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into file system operations without proper sanitization or authorization checks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to read sensitive configuration files, application source code, or other system resources that should remain protected. The issue represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using IBM Cognos Analytics, as successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and exposure of confidential business intelligence. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only a web browser to execute, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with the technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can use it to enumerate system files and directories. The impact extends beyond simple file access, as attackers may be able to write files to the system, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation. Organizations running IBM Cognos Analytics 11 should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches to address this vulnerability. The remediation involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied file paths, ensuring that all requests are properly authorized and that path traversal attempts are blocked. Additional mitigations include network segmentation, web application firewalls, and regular security monitoring to detect suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in web applications, particularly when handling file system operations and user input. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their analytics platforms to identify similar weaknesses in other components of their business intelligence infrastructure. This issue highlights the need for robust access controls and the principle of least privilege, ensuring that applications operate with minimal necessary permissions to prevent escalation of privileges through directory traversal attacks. The security community has widely recognized this class of vulnerability as a persistent threat in enterprise applications, emphasizing the necessity of continuous vulnerability management and security updates.