CVE-2020-4354 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2021
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: 178506.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics version 11.0 and 11.1 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this business intelligence platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw exists within the web user interface of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal user interactions with the platform's web-based components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to embed arbitrary JavaScript code within the web interface of IBM Cognos Analytics, which then executes in the context of other users' sessions. This occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user input before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI components that handle user-generated content or parameters, enabling attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the application. When exploited, the malicious JavaScript code can access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information that users might be interacting with within the trusted session context of the analytics platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to credential disclosure within trusted sessions, potentially enabling attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data. This risk is particularly concerning for organizations using IBM Cognos Analytics for reporting and dashboard functionalities that may contain confidential business information, financial data, or strategic insights. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive credentials that would allow them to impersonate legitimate users and access restricted reports, dashboards, or administrative functions. The attack vector is relatively straightforward as it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it a high-value target for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise analytics environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates as released by IBM to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves monitoring IBM's security advisories and applying the appropriate security fixes to versions 11.0 and 11.1 of Cognos Analytics. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following the principle of least privilege when configuring web applications to minimize the potential impact of such flaws. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify any additional weaknesses in their Cognos Analytics deployments that could be exploited by attackers leveraging similar techniques.