CVE-2023-47160 in Cognos Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2025
IBM Cognos Controller 11.0.0 through 11.0.1 FP3 and IBM Controller 11.1.0
is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2025
IBM Cognos Controller versions 11.0.0 through 11.0.1 FP3 and 11.1.0 contain a critical XML External Entity Injection vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for enterprise environments. This vulnerability falls under CWE-611, which specifically addresses XML External Entity Processing vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1590.002 for reconnaissance through external information leakage. The flaw occurs when the application processes XML data without proper validation of external entity declarations, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the XML parser behavior. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform information disclosure by accessing internal system files or network resources that should remain protected. Additionally, the XXE injection can be exploited to consume excessive memory resources through recursive entity references, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data including system configurations, user credentials, and business-critical information stored within the controller environment. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as the memory consumption aspect can be weaponized to create resource exhaustion attacks that compromise system availability. Organizations utilizing these specific versions of IBM Cognos Controller face heightened risk due to the remote exploitation capability, which requires no authentication and can be executed from any network location. The vulnerability affects the core XML processing functionality within the controller's data handling mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for environments where XML data exchange is common. This flaw represents a fundamental weakness in the input validation processes that should have been implemented to prevent unauthorized entity resolution during XML parsing operations.
The exploitation of this XXE vulnerability follows standard attack patterns where malicious XML payloads contain references to external entities that can be resolved by the vulnerable parser. Attackers can construct payloads that reference internal system files such as configuration files, database connection strings, or even system directories through the use of file URI schemes. The memory consumption aspect of this vulnerability can be amplified through entity expansion techniques that create exponentially growing data structures during parsing operations. This dual nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it provides both information disclosure capabilities and potential denial of service vectors. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that XML processing is commonly used throughout the controller's functionality for data import, export, and configuration management operations. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web interfaces, API endpoints, and file upload mechanisms where XML data is processed. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack means that threat actors can target affected systems from outside the organization's network perimeter without requiring physical access or network credentials. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to automated exploit tools. The impact on business continuity is substantial as both data exposure and resource exhaustion can lead to complete system compromise or operational disruption.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of IBM Cognos Controller that address the XXE vulnerability through proper XML parser configuration and input validation. The recommended approach involves disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers and implementing strict input validation controls that prevent the processing of untrusted XML data. Security configurations should enforce the use of secure XML parsers that do not resolve external entities by default, which aligns with industry best practices for preventing XXE attacks. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to affected systems and reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments should include verification that XML processing components have been properly configured to prevent external entity resolution. Organizations must also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual XML processing patterns or resource consumption spikes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the security patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing business processes. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators should cover the importance of proper XML handling and the risks associated with external entity processing. Incident response procedures should be updated to include specific protocols for detecting and responding to XXE exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls or similar protective measures that can filter malicious XML payloads before they reach the vulnerable application components. Regular vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure. The implementation of these mitigations should follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized users and systems can access the affected functionality. Proper logging and audit trail mechanisms should be established to track XML processing activities and detect potential exploitation attempts.