CVE-2020-4301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery, potentially allowing attackers to execute unauthorized actions. IBM X-Force ID: 176609.

Understanding CVE-2020-4301

IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 are susceptible to a cross-site request forgery vulnerability.

What is CVE-2020-4301?

CVE-2020-4301 is a security vulnerability in IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 that could be exploited by attackers to perform unauthorized actions through a trusted user's actions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4301

The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on the affected system, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4301

IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 are affected by a cross-site request forgery vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to forge requests that are treated as legitimate, enabling them to perform actions on behalf of trusted users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: IBM
Product: Cognos Analytics
Vulnerable Versions: 11.1.7, 11.2.0, 11.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking a user into executing malicious actions on the targeted website.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Apply official fixes provided by IBM.
Monitor for any unauthorized actions on the system. Long-Term Security Practices:
Educate users on recognizing and avoiding phishing attacks.
Implement multi-factor authentication to enhance security.
Regularly update and patch software to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.