CVE-2021-38909 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 12/03/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 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: 209706.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2021
IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 contain 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, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious JavaScript within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw exists in the web user interface where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the browser, creating an opening for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that can persistently execute within the application's trusted environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's intended functionality and potentially compromise user credentials. When a malicious user successfully injects JavaScript code into the web interface, the script can execute within the context of a legitimate user session, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal and T1078 for Valid Accounts, as it enables attackers to leverage existing authenticated sessions to extract credentials or perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted session context, making detection more challenging and increasing the potential for privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to identify input fields or parameters within the IBM Cognos Analytics interface that do not properly validate or sanitize user input. Once identified, attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that IBM Cognos Analytics is typically used by authorized users with elevated privileges, meaning successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data, financial reports, or strategic information. Organizations utilizing this platform may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is compromised through such an attack vector, particularly in industries governed by standards such as SOX, HIPAA, or GDPR.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests. The recommended approach involves strengthening the application's defense in depth by enforcing strict content security policies, implementing proper sanitization of all user inputs, and conducting regular security assessments of the web interface components. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the vulnerability's classification as a persistent security risk, organizations should also consider conducting security awareness training for administrators and users to recognize potential phishing attempts that may exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all input fields are properly validated and that the application's response handling mechanisms prevent script injection attacks.