CVE-2021-38946 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting, potentially leading to credentials disclosure. Here's what you need to know about this CVE.

Understanding CVE-2021-38946

IBM Cognos Analytics is impacted by a cross-site scripting vulnerability that could allow malicious users to insert JavaScript code into the Web UI, risking unauthorized access and data exposure.

What is CVE-2021-38946?

The vulnerability in IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.0, and 11.2.1 enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript within the application, posing a risk of altering normal functionality and disclosing sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38946

Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the compromise of user credentials, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data within trusted sessions, increasing the risk of data breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38946

Find out the technical aspects and implications of the CVE in IBM Cognos Analytics.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in IBM Cognos Analytics allows threat actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the Web UI, compromising the application's security posture.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires low privileges and user interaction to exploit the application remotely, with a high exploit code maturity level.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-38946 in IBM Cognos Analytics.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the XSS vulnerability promptly.
Educate users on the risks of enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution within the application.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update the application for security patches and enhancements.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to mitigate XSS attacks effectively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Cognos Analytics software is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities and maintain a secure environment.