CVE-2024-41777 in Cognos Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 12/03/2024
IBM Cognos Controller 11.0.0 and 11.0.1
contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which it uses for its own inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2024
IBM Cognos Controller versions 11.0.0 and 11.0.1 contain a critical security vulnerability classified as a hard-coded credential issue that represents a significant risk to enterprise environments. This vulnerability falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications, making it a well-documented and severe security weakness. The presence of hard-coded authentication credentials within the application's codebase means that sensitive authentication information is embedded directly into the software rather than being dynamically managed or stored securely. This flaw affects the system's inbound authentication mechanisms, outbound communication protocols with external components, and internal data encryption processes, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system through the hardcoded credentials, potentially enabling them to perform administrative functions, access sensitive data, or manipulate the application's communication with other systems. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it compromises the integrity of the authentication framework itself. When credentials are hardcoded, they become persistent across system updates and deployments, making them particularly dangerous as they cannot be easily rotated or changed without modifying the application code. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers the exploitation of hard-coded credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations using IBM Cognos Controller in their financial reporting and business intelligence environments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive financial data, manipulate reporting systems, and disrupt business operations. The vulnerability affects both versions 11.0.0 and 11.0.1, indicating that it was likely introduced early in the release cycle and persisted through the initial minor version updates. Organizations with these vulnerable systems face increased risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to compromised reporting systems. The nature of the vulnerability also means that any system with these specific versions installed is immediately at risk without proper mitigation measures.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates that address the hardcoded credential issue. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all instances of affected versions and implement additional security controls such as network segmentation and monitoring of authentication attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper credential management practices and the dangers of embedding sensitive information within application source code. Security teams should also implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and consider implementing additional authentication layers beyond the hardcoded credentials. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security assessments and the importance of following secure coding practices that prevent the inclusion of hard-coded credentials in production software deployments.