In this post, we will explore the details of CVE-2023-30996, a vulnerability affecting IBM Cognos Analytics versions 11.1.7, 11.2.4, and 12... This security flaw potentially exposes sensitive data to attackers through unverified sources during communication between Windows objects of different origins. The IBM X-Force ID for this issue is 254290.

According to the official vulnerability disclosure, this vulnerability could lead to "information leakage," which means that an unauthorized party could potentially gain access to and exploit confidential data.

Technological Background: IBM Cognos Analytics and Windows Objects

IBM Cognos Analytics is a business intelligence and data visualization platform that helps companies visualize, analyze, and share insights from their data. It supports various data sources, including big data and streaming data, and offers advanced analytics capabilities, data visualizations, and reporting tools.

Windows objects are a part of the Windows operating system's underlying architecture. They are used to manage resources, such as user interface components, files, processes, and more. The communication between these objects is crucial for the smooth functioning of the system. In the context of this vulnerability, it is the messages exchanged between Windows objects of different origins that may contain sensitive information.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability (CVE-2023-30996) arises from the fact that IBM Cognos Analytics does not properly verify the source of the messages being sent between Windows objects of different origins. This oversight can potentially expose sensitive data to unauthorized users, who may intercept and view the contents of these messages. This could then be exploited by attackers for various malicious purposes, such as stealing confidential business data or gaining unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

An example code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability is shown below

function receiveMessage(event) {
  // The following line should check the event origin
  // if (event.origin !== "http://trusted.origin.example.com";) return;

  // Data from unverified origins can be accessed directly
  var data = event.data;
  // ... (process the data)
}
window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);

In this example, the receiveMessage function is responsible for processing messages sent between Windows objects. However, it does not verify the event origin before accessing the data in the message. This oversight can lead to information leakage if an untrusted source sends malicious data.

Mitigation and Fixes

IBM is aware of the vulnerability and recommends users to upgrade their IBM Cognos Analytics software to versions 11.1.7 IF15, 11.2.4 FP3, 12.., or later, which contain the necessary fixes for this issue.

To address the vulnerability in the code snippet example, you should implement the following checks before processing the data in the messages:

function receiveMessage(event) {
  // Verify the event origin
  if (event.origin !== "http://trusted.origin.example.com";) return;

  // Data from verified origins can be accessed safely
  var data = event.data;
  // ... (process the data)
}
window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);

By adding the check for the event origin, you can ensure that the messages are processed only from trusted sources, thus mitigating the risk of information leakage.

Conclusion and Recommendations

CVE-2023-30996 is a critical vulnerability in IBM Cognos Analytics that can lead to information leakage if not addressed properly. It is essential for users to update their software to the latest patched versions and ensure that the necessary precautions are taken to verify the sources of messages sent between Windows objects.

For further information and guidance, refer to the original references below

- IBM Security Bulletin:
- CVE-2023-30996 Official Entry:

As a standard best practice, always keep your systems and software up-to-date to protect against potential security threats and vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 02/26/2024 16:27:46 UTC
Last modified on: 02/26/2024 16:32:25 UTC