CVE-2019-4645 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 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: 170881.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2024
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 and 11.1 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters that are subsequently executed in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization measures, allowing crafted payloads to be stored or reflected in web responses. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious input that, when processed by the application, gets executed in the browser of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically affects the web user interface components where user input is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking and credential theft within trusted sessions. When authenticated users interact with compromised application functionality, their browser sessions become vulnerable to manipulation by attackers who can extract session tokens, cookies, or other sensitive authentication data. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where Cognos Analytics serves as a business intelligence platform with access to sensitive corporate data and analytics.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into clicking malicious links or interacting with compromised application features. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the stolen session information to maintain persistent access to the system. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to business intelligence systems, and compromise of sensitive analytical data that could impact strategic decision-making processes.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security assessments and user awareness training should be conducted to prevent exploitation attempts, while monitoring for suspicious user activities and anomalous access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in enterprise analytics platforms where user trust and data integrity are paramount considerations.