CVE-2025-1994 in Cognos Command Center
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2025
IBM Cognos Command Center 10.2.4.1 and 10.2.5
could allow a local user to execute arbitrary code on the system due to the use of unsafe use of the BinaryFormatter function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
IBM Cognos Command Center versions 10.2.4.1 and 10.2.5 contain a critical security vulnerability that stems from the unsafe usage of the BinaryFormatter function within the application's codebase. This vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that could be exploited by local users to execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. The BinaryFormatter class in .NET frameworks is inherently dangerous due to its ability to deserialize arbitrary data streams, making it a prime target for exploitation when used improperly. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure deserialization as defined by CWE-502, which specifically addresses the risks associated with deserializing untrusted data. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the BinaryFormatter, trigger arbitrary code execution. The local privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that an attacker with basic system access could potentially elevate their privileges to gain full system control. This represents a severe threat to enterprise environments where IBM Cognos Command Center is deployed, as it could lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution to potential lateral movement within networks, as compromised systems could serve as launching points for further attacks. Organizations using these specific versions of IBM Cognos Command Center face a critical risk of unauthorized system access and potential data breaches. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could execute malicious payloads through the deserialization process. The unsafe use of BinaryFormatter directly violates security best practices established by OWASP and Microsoft's secure coding guidelines, which explicitly recommend against using this class for untrusted input sources. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for secure deserialization practices in enterprise applications. The attack vector requires local system access, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share systems or where privilege boundaries are not properly enforced. Security teams should prioritize patching these vulnerable versions to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors who may be actively targeting this specific flaw. The remediation process involves updating to patched versions of IBM Cognos Command Center or implementing compensating controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other instances of unsafe BinaryFormatter usage within their application portfolios, as similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components. The long-term implications of this vulnerability highlight the need for robust application security testing and the implementation of automated security scanning tools to identify such dangerous coding practices before they can be exploited in production environments.