CVE-2019-4589 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.0 and 11.1 have a vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation, granting unauthorized access to certain pages. This CVE was identified by IBM X-Force with the ID 167449.

Understanding CVE-2019-4589

This CVE affects IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.0 and 11.1, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2019-4589?

IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.0 and 11.1 are susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability that enables users with lower privileges to access the "My schedules and subscriptions" page.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4589

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 4.6, potentially allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges within the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4589

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.0 and 11.1 allows users with lower privileges to view and access the "My schedules and subscriptions" page, leading to potential privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cognos Analytics
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 11.0, 11.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

IBM recommends applying the official fix provided by the vendor to address this vulnerability.
Restrict access to sensitive pages to authorized users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update user privileges to ensure least privilege access.
Conduct security training to educate users on the importance of access control.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from IBM to promptly apply patches for known vulnerabilities.