CVE-2023-28952 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 injection attacks in application logging by not sanitizing user provided data. IBM X-Force ID: 251463.
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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 vulnerability in their application logging mechanisms that enables injection attacks through insufficient sanitization of user-provided data. This vulnerability falls under the category of input validation flaws and represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity and confidentiality. The flaw exists within the logging subsystem where user inputs are directly incorporated into log entries without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attackers can manipulate the logging process to execute unauthorized actions or extract sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because application logs typically contain sensitive operational data, user credentials, system information, and other confidential details that are routinely processed and stored by the logging framework. When user-provided data is not properly sanitized before being written to logs, attackers can inject malicious payloads that may be executed during log parsing, viewing, or analysis operations, potentially leading to remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and CWE-94 (Code Injection) classifications, as the vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution through malformed input in the logging context. The attack surface is broad since application logs are frequently accessed by system administrators, security analysts, and automated monitoring tools, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during routine log analysis activities. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate audit trails, hide malicious activities, or gain deeper system access through log-based attacks. The vulnerability is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 (Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as it can be used to create false log entries that obscure legitimate activities or to inject malicious content that can be executed during log processing. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of IBM Cognos Controller face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where logging is used for security monitoring, compliance auditing, or forensic analysis. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's data handling practices where user inputs are not properly validated or sanitized before being processed by system components. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and input validation that is critical for maintaining system security and integrity.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple injection techniques targeting the logging functionality. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable logging subsystem, result in the execution of unauthorized code or the injection of malicious content into log files. The vulnerability affects the core logging mechanisms that are essential for system operation and security monitoring, making it particularly dangerous as it can be used to undermine the very security controls that are designed to detect and prevent malicious activities. The lack of proper input sanitization creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to systems or to manipulate audit trails for extended periods. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be particularly challenging to detect and remediate as the malicious inputs may appear legitimate during normal operation but can trigger exploitable conditions during log processing. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that application logs are often stored in accessible locations and may be processed by automated tools that do not properly validate input before execution, creating additional attack vectors for exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, implementing strict input validation controls, and monitoring log files for suspicious entries that may indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of IBM Cognos Controller where the logging sanitization has been properly implemented to prevent user-provided data from being directly incorporated into log entries without proper encoding or validation. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, configuring proper access controls for log files, and establishing regular log integrity checks to detect any unauthorized modifications or injection attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing log monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on anomalous log entries that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in all application components, particularly those that handle user-provided data. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential injection points in their systems and implement consistent security controls across all applications and services that process user inputs. The remediation process should also include security awareness training for developers to ensure that proper input validation and sanitization techniques are consistently applied throughout the software development lifecycle. Regular security testing and penetration testing should be conducted to validate that the implemented mitigations are effective and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other system components.