CVE-2026-115496 in Business Hub
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2026
Overly informative error messages in the catalog functionality of KNIME Business Hub prior to version 1.18.5 may allow an authenticated remote attacker to see workflow names if their ID is known. A workaround is not possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2026
The vulnerability identified within KNIME Business Hub versions preceding 1.18.5 represents a classic instance of information disclosure through overly informative error handling mechanisms. This flaw resides specifically in the catalog functionality, which serves as a central repository for managing and organizing data science workflows. The core technical deficiency lies in how the application processes requests where workflow identifiers are provided but do not correspond to accessible resources or valid entries within the system's database. Instead of returning a generic, non-descriptive error message such as access denied or resource not found, the software leaks specific internal details about the existence and naming conventions of workflows based on their unique identifiers. This behavior indicates that the application logic performs validation checks against known workflow IDs before applying strict authorization filters, thereby revealing metadata to any authenticated user who can guess or obtain these identifiers through other means such as network traffic interception or prior knowledge of system structures.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information and CWE-284: Improper Access Control. The attacker does not need to exploit complex logic flaws in authentication protocols but rather relies on the application's failure to sanitize error responses based on the user's actual permissions relative to specific resources. Even though the attacker is authenticated, meaning they have passed initial identity verification, the system fails to enforce proper object-level access controls during the error generation phase. By submitting a request with a known or guessed workflow ID that the user does not own or has no permission to view, the application inadvertently confirms the existence of that specific workflow and exposes its name. This constitutes an enumeration attack vector where an adversary can systematically probe for valid resource names by observing variations in error responses, effectively mapping out the organization's data science assets without needing direct access rights to them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple curiosity or reconnaissance. In enterprise environments, knowledge of specific workflow names can provide attackers with critical context about business processes, analytical models being deployed, and potentially sensitive data pipelines that are in use. If these workflows interact with proprietary datasets or connect to internal systems, knowing their existence allows an attacker to tailor subsequent attacks more effectively. For instance, if a workflow name implies it handles financial reporting or customer personal information, the attacker gains insight into high-value targets within the infrastructure. Furthermore, this exposure can facilitate social engineering attacks by providing realistic context for phishing campaigns targeting employees involved in those specific projects. The inability to implement a workaround means that organizations running affected versions are continuously exposed to this risk until an upgrade is performed, leaving them vulnerable to persistent reconnaissance efforts by determined adversaries who have already gained authenticated access through credential theft or other initial compromise vectors.
Mitigation strategies must focus primarily on upgrading the KNIME Business Hub software to version 1.18.5 or later, where these error handling mechanisms are corrected to return uniform responses regardless of whether a resource exists or if the user has permission to view it. Until such an upgrade is feasible, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can inspect and sanitize HTTP response bodies for sensitive patterns related to workflow names before they reach the client side. Additionally, strict logging and monitoring of catalog access attempts should be enforced to detect enumeration activities in real time. Security teams must also review their authentication policies to ensure that only essential personnel have authenticated access to the business hub, thereby reducing the pool of potential attackers who could exploit this information leakage. Aligning remediation efforts with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1087: Account Discovery and T1539: Steal Web Session Cookie can help in understanding how this vulnerability fits into broader attack chains involving credential access and discovery phases, allowing for more comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies that account for both technical fixes and procedural controls.