CVE-2021-20451 in Cognos Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
IBM Cognos Controller 10.4.1, 10.4.2, and 11.0.0 is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database. IBM X-Force ID: 196643.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.1, 10.4.2, and 11.0.0 contain a critical sql injection vulnerability that exposes the underlying database to unauthorized access. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user inputs that are subsequently processed within database queries, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can manipulate the sql execution flow through crafted input sequences.
The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the back-end database by submitting specially crafted sql statements through the application interface. This attack vector enables unauthorized users to perform data manipulation operations including reading sensitive information, inserting malicious data, modifying existing records, or deleting critical database entries. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially escalate privileges within the database environment and gain deeper access to the underlying system infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe security risk for organizations relying on IBM Cognos Controller for business intelligence and financial reporting functions. The affected versions process user inputs directly within sql queries without proper input validation or parameterized query construction, making the system highly susceptible to exploitation. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication to the application, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and attack window. Organizations utilizing these specific versions face substantial risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized data access or manipulation.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.1, 10.4.2, and 11.0.0. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the application and database servers. Input validation should be strengthened at all application entry points, and all user inputs should be properly parameterized before being incorporated into sql queries. The principle of least privilege should be enforced for database accounts used by the application, limiting their capabilities to only essential operations. Organizations should also implement database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive audit logs for forensic analysis. This vulnerability aligns with attack techniques categorized under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and persistence domains, specifically targeting the execution and privilege escalation phases of an attack lifecycle.