CVE-2022-4771 in Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2023
Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server prior to versions 9.4.0.1 and 9.3.0.2, including 8.3.x allow a malicious URL to inject content into the Pentaho User Console through session variables.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2023
This vulnerability affects Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server versions prior to 9.4.0.1 and 9.3.0.2, including the 8.3.x series, presenting a critical security risk through improper input validation in session variable handling. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject content into the Pentaho User Console by manipulating URL parameters that are subsequently processed as session variables, creating a potential vector for cross-site scripting attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive system components. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input that flows into session management mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate application state through crafted URLs. This issue represents a classic case of insecure input handling that can escalate to full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the server's failure to properly validate and sanitize session variables received through URL parameters. When legitimate users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs containing specially formatted session variables, the Pentaho server processes these inputs without adequate filtering, leading to content injection within the user console interface. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal session tokens, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to bypass authentication mechanisms, as session variables often contain critical authentication tokens and user permissions. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and CWE-20, which covers improper input validation, making it a compound security weakness that affects both input sanitization and session management controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to business analytics environments containing sensitive corporate data. Organizations utilizing affected Pentaho versions face risks of data exfiltration, unauthorized reporting access, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the user console, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate dashboards, modify reports, or gain elevated privileges within the analytics platform. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct reconnaissance activities, gather intelligence about system configurations, and establish footholds for more sophisticated attacks. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Pentaho serves as a central analytics platform for business intelligence and reporting, as compromised access can lead to widespread data exposure and operational disruption.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions 9.4.0.1 and 9.3.0.2, which contain proper input validation and session variable sanitization mechanisms. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns, particularly those containing unusual session variable parameters. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement strict access controls for the Pentaho user console. Additionally, organizations should review their application logging configurations to ensure detection capabilities for malformed URL requests and session manipulation attempts. The mitigation strategy should align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may attempt to leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious commands through injected content. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures must be enhanced to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability in business analytics environments.