CVE-2019-4723 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 could allow a remote attacker to obtain credentials from a user's browser via incorrect autocomplete settings in New Data Server Connection page. IBM X-Force ID: 172129.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 and 11.1 contains a critical security vulnerability that allows remote attackers to harvest user credentials through improper autocomplete configuration on the New Data Server Connection page. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser-based authentication interface where users enter sensitive connection details including usernames and passwords for various data sources. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly disable autocomplete functionality on critical input fields, creating an exploitable condition that directly violates security best practices for credential handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application's HTML form elements lacking proper autocomplete attributes that would prevent browsers from storing and auto-filling sensitive information. When users navigate to the New Data Server Connection page, the form fields that collect authentication credentials are configured with default autocomplete settings that allow browsers to cache this information. This creates a scenario where attackers can potentially access previously stored credentials through various attack vectors including cross-site scripting attacks, man-in-the-middle interception, or direct browser exploitation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users access the same browser instance or shared computing resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can lead to unauthorized access to underlying data sources, potential data breaches, and compromise of sensitive business intelligence. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to databases, enterprise applications, and other systems that are connected through the Cognos Analytics platform, potentially escalating their access to broader network resources. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-313 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in a File or on a Disk) categories, as it enables unauthorized access to credential information that should remain protected. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1552 (Unsecured Credentials) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, demonstrating how improper credential handling can facilitate broader compromise activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling autocomplete on all sensitive input fields within the Cognos Analytics interface, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block exploitation attempts, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all browser-based applications. System administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication, regular credential rotation policies, and enhanced monitoring of user access patterns to detect potential exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and security configuration management in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and authentication credentials. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and ensure that all web applications follow established security guidelines including the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework recommendations for protecting sensitive information.