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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4561: IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 DQM API allows submitting of all control requests in unauthenticated ses...

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 DQM API allows submitting of all control requests in unauthenticated sessions. This allows a remote attacker who can access a valid CA endpoint to read and write files to the Cognos Analytics system. IBM X-Force ID: 183903.

CriticalCVSS 10Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-4561 is a critical IBM Cognos Analytics flaw where the DQM API can accept control requests without authentication. A remote attacker with access to a valid Cognos Analytics endpoint could read and write files on the Cognos system, creating serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability risk.

Executive priority

Prioritize this as an emergency remediation item for any exposed or business-critical Cognos deployment. The vulnerability can affect sensitive analytics data and system integrity without requiring attacker credentials. If Cognos is internet-accessible, reduce exposure immediately while confirming vendor remediation.

Technical view

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 are affected. The issue is in the DQM API authorization model: unauthenticated sessions may submit control requests. The CVSS 3.0 score is 10.0 with network attack vector, no privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Likely exposure

Organizations running IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 or 11.1 are the primary exposure group. Risk is highest where Cognos endpoints are reachable from untrusted networks, partner networks, VPN users, or broad internal segments. The source bundle does not identify other affected IBM products.

Exploitation context

The sources describe remote unauthenticated access to file read and write capability through a valid Cognos Analytics endpoint. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and no cited source here confirms active exploitation. Treat exposure as urgent because the preconditions are low and impact is severe.

Researcher notes

No CWE is provided in the bundle. The strongest technical signals are CVSS 10.0, PR:N, UI:N, AC:L, AV:N, and scope changed. The bundle names file read and write impact, while the X-Force title references command execution; avoid assuming exploit mechanics beyond cited vendor descriptions.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for the supported fix or upgrade path.
  • Patch or upgrade affected Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 deployments.
  • Restrict Cognos endpoint access to trusted networks and authenticated users.
  • Apply compensating controls until vendor remediation is complete.
  • Consult NetApp advisory where NetApp-managed environments include Cognos exposure.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all IBM Cognos Analytics instances and record exact versions.
  • Confirm whether any deployment runs Cognos Analytics 11.0 or 11.1.
  • Identify reachable Cognos Analytics endpoints from external and internal networks.
  • Review access logs for unauthenticated DQM or control request activity.
  • Check Cognos host files for unexpected modification timestamps or unauthorized content.
  • Verify remediation status against IBM guidance after updates are applied.
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.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2020-4561 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
10 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
10CVSS 3.0CriticalCVSS:3.0/PR:N/C:H/I:H/S:C/AC:L/A:H/UI:N/AV:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C3.96Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

10Critical
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4561Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.