CVE-2022-43887 in Cognos Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2022
IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 could be vulnerable to sensitive information exposure by passing API keys to log files. If these keys contain sensitive information, it could lead to further attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 240450.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2023
IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 contain a critical information exposure vulnerability that arises from improper handling of API keys within log files. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and secure logging practices. The vulnerability occurs when the system inadvertently writes authentication credentials and API keys to log files during normal operational procedures, creating persistent exposure points that can be accessed by unauthorized users or processes with file system permissions. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's logging framework, allowing sensitive data to flow through the system without proper obfuscation or removal. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it enables attackers to gain access to authentication tokens and API keys that may grant elevated privileges within the analytics platform and potentially to underlying systems that the analytics platform interfaces with. The exposure creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks and can lead to complete system compromise if the exposed keys have broad access permissions. This weakness aligns with CWE-209, which addresses information exposure through logging, and reflects poor security hygiene in data sanitization processes. The vulnerability is classified as a medium severity risk but carries significant operational impact due to the potential for credential theft and subsequent lateral movement within network environments. The affected versions of IBM Cognos Analytics demonstrate a failure to implement proper logging security controls, specifically the absence of credential scrubbing mechanisms that should automatically detect and remove sensitive information from log output. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a persistent risk that remains active until patched, as log files are typically retained for extended periods and may be accessed by system administrators, auditors, or automated monitoring tools. The impact extends beyond immediate credential compromise to include potential data exfiltration and unauthorized access to business intelligence systems that may contain sensitive corporate information. Attackers can leverage this exposure to conduct reconnaissance and establish persistent access to the analytics environment, potentially compromising data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability also violates industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 requirements for secure logging and IBM's own security best practices regarding credential handling. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including log file access controls, credential scrubbing in log output, and regular log file audits to identify and remediate exposed credentials. The IBM X-Force ID 240450 indicates this vulnerability was recognized by IBM's security team and prioritized for remediation, emphasizing the need for prompt patch deployment and enhanced monitoring of log file contents to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive authentication information.