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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4354: IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 178506.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 can allow an authenticated user to place JavaScript into the web interface. If another user interacts with the affected UI, that script could run inside a trusted session and may expose credentials or alter what the user sees.

Executive priority

Treat as a medium-priority remediation item. It is not described as actively exploited, but it can affect trusted analytics sessions and credential confidentiality if vulnerable Cognos versions remain in use.

Technical view

This is a network-reachable stored or reflected cross-site scripting issue in IBM Cognos Analytics Web UI. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.4, with low attack complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and limited confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 or 11.1 is still deployed, especially if the web UI is reachable by many internal users or externally accessible authenticated users.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector includes high exploit-code maturity, but the provided evidence does not identify specific campaigns, public exploit steps, or observed abuse.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are PR:L and UI:R, so validation should focus on authenticated content paths and user-triggered rendering in Cognos Web UI. Do not assume unauthenticated compromise from the provided sources.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory 6451705 for the supported fix or upgrade path.
  • Prioritize remediation for internet-facing or broadly accessible Cognos deployments.
  • Restrict Cognos Web UI access to trusted networks and required users.
  • Review NetApp advisory if Cognos is present in supported NetApp contexts.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force entry 178506 for vendor-specific updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Cognos Analytics deployments and confirm 11.0 or 11.1 usage.
  • Verify whether Cognos Web UI is exposed externally or to broad internal audiences.
  • Confirm remediation status against IBM advisory 6451705.
  • Review user roles that can create or alter Web UI content.
  • Check security logs for suspicious script-like content in Cognos-managed fields.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2020-4354 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:L/S:C/PR:L/C:L/A:N/AC:L/AV:N/UI:R/RC:C/E:H/RL:O

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/I:L/S:C/PR:L/C:L/A:N/AC:L/AV:N/UI:R/RC:C/E:H/RL:O2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4354Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:L/S:C/PR:L/C:L/A:N/AC:L/AV:N/UI:R/RC:C/E:H/RL:O

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMCognos Analytics11.0, 11.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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