CVE-2020-4644 in Planning Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Planning Analytics Local 2.0.0 through 2.0.9.1 could allow a remote attacker to hijack the clicking action of the victim. By persuading a victim to visit a malicious Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack the victim's click actions and possibly launch further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 185716.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2020
This vulnerability affects IBM Planning Analytics Local versions 2.0.0 through 2.0.9.1 and represents a sophisticated clickjacking attack vector that compromises user interaction integrity. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate victim click actions through malicious web content, creating a dangerous exploitation scenario where users unknowingly interact with attacker-controlled elements while believing they are engaging with legitimate interfaces. The vulnerability specifically targets the web application's user interface handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to overlay transparent or opaque elements that capture and redirect user clicks to unintended targets. This type of attack falls under the broader category of user interface redressing attacks that manipulate the user's perception of their interaction context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in how the IBM Planning Analytics Local web application processes user events and manages click handling within its browser-based interface. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that embed the legitimate planning analytics interface within iframes or similar constructs, then overlay transparent layers that capture user clicks and redirect them to attacker-controlled URLs or functionality. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and event handling in the web application's front-end components, where user interaction events are not properly sanitized or validated before being processed. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access, or further exploitation of the target system. The attack requires social engineering to convince victims to visit malicious sites, but once triggered, it operates automatically without requiring additional user interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple click redirection, as it creates a foundation for more complex attack chains that can escalate to full system compromise. Victims may unknowingly perform actions such as modifying data, accessing restricted features, or triggering automated processes within the planning analytics environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on web-based planning and analytics interfaces, where user trust in the interface is paramount. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform data exfiltration, manipulate financial planning data, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed without requiring authentication or specialized tools, making it accessible to attackers with basic web development knowledge. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of user sessions and can undermine the security of entire planning and analytics workflows.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected IBM Planning Analytics Local installations to versions that address the clickjacking flaws. Browser security measures including frame busting techniques, content security policies, and X-Frame-Options headers should be configured to prevent embedding of the application within malicious iframes. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious click redirection attempts. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent successful social engineering campaigns that rely on convincing victims to visit malicious sites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1021, which specifically addresses improper restriction of rendering of objects across different security domains, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1027 for obfuscated files or information and T1531 for hijacking user sessions. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and ensure proper input validation and event handling throughout their application stacks.