CVE-2020-4876 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-4876 affecting IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.0, 10.4.1, and 10.4.2. Understand the XXE vulnerability impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.0, 10.4.1, and 10.4.2 are vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack, potentially exposing sensitive information or causing resource consumption.
Understanding CVE-2020-4876
IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.0, 10.4.1, and 10.4.2 are susceptible to XXE attacks, posing a risk of data exposure and resource depletion.
What is CVE-2020-4876?
IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.0, 10.4.1, and 10.4.2 are affected by an XXE vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers to access sensitive data or exhaust memory resources.
The Impact of CVE-2020-4876
- CVSS Base Score: 7.1 (High)
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Availability Impact: Low
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
- Remediation Level: Official Fix
- Report Confidence: Confirmed
- This vulnerability has a significant impact on confidentiality and could lead to memory exhaustion.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-4876
IBM Cognos Controller versions 10.4.0, 10.4.1, and 10.4.2 are affected by an XXE vulnerability, potentially exposing sensitive information.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows remote attackers to conduct XXE attacks, leading to potential data exposure and resource consumption.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Cognos Controller
- Vendor: IBM
- Versions Affected: 10.4.0, 10.4.1, 10.4.2
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the XXE vulnerability in IBM Cognos Controller by manipulating XML data to access sensitive information or exhaust memory resources.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take:
- Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual activity that could indicate exploitation of the XXE vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices:
- Regularly update and patch IBM Cognos Controller to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
- Educate users on safe data handling practices to reduce the risk of exploitation.
- Conduct regular security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.