CVE-2025-36062 in Cognos Analytics Mobile
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2025
IBM Cognos Analytics Mobile (iOS) 1.1.0 through 1.1.22
could be vulnerable to information exposure due to the use of unencrypted network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2025
IBM Cognos Analytics Mobile for iOS versions 1.1.0 through 1.1.22 contains a critical security vulnerability classified as information exposure due to the use of unencrypted network traffic. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-319 category of Cryptographic Issues, specifically addressing the improper handling of network communications that may expose sensitive data during transmission. The flaw manifests when the mobile application fails to implement proper encryption protocols for data in transit, creating potential pathways for attackers to intercept and access confidential information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on unencrypted communication channels for transmitting user credentials, session data, and business intelligence reports between the mobile device and the Cognos Analytics server. This unencrypted communication exposes sensitive information to man-in-the-middle attacks, network sniffing, and other passive reconnaissance techniques that can be leveraged by threat actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that Cognos Analytics is designed for enterprise environments where sensitive business data, financial reports, and strategic information are routinely accessed and transmitted through mobile interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential business disruption and compliance violations. Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Cognos Analytics Mobile may face significant risks including unauthorized access to proprietary business intelligence, potential regulatory breaches under data protection frameworks such as GDPR or HIPAA, and compromise of corporate intellectual property. The vulnerability affects the mobile application's ability to maintain secure communications, potentially allowing attackers to capture authentication tokens, view sensitive reports, or even manipulate data during transmission. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to enterprise systems.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through the application of available patches or updates from IBM. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for Exfiltration Over C2 Channel and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers may leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to enterprise data. Additionally, this issue demonstrates the importance of implementing secure communication protocols as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 controls, particularly those addressing secure transmission of information. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic analysis tools to detect anomalous communication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all mobile applications in enterprise environments adhere to secure coding practices and cryptographic standards.