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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20493: IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 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: 197794.

MediumCVSS 6.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 can allow cross-site scripting in the web interface. An attacker could make the trusted session run unauthorized JavaScript, which may alter page behavior or expose credentials. This is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle.

Executive priority

Treat as a scheduled but timely remediation item, especially for exposed analytics portals handling sensitive business data. The main business risk is credential disclosure or session abuse through trusted user interaction, not service outage.

Technical view

The issue is an unauthenticated, network-reachable XSS with user interaction required, low attack complexity, and changed scope. CVSS 3.0 score is 6.1. The stated impact is limited confidentiality and integrity loss, with no availability impact. IBM X-Force tracks it as 197794.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 or 11.2.0. Internet-facing or broadly accessible Cognos portals carry higher practical risk because users may interact with malicious content in trusted sessions.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires user interaction, but no exploit steps or public weaponization details are included in the bundle.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for affected versions, vulnerability class, CVSS attributes, and IBM X-Force ID. The bundle does not include detailed vulnerable parameters, exploit evidence, or exact fixed version, so validation should focus on version inventory and vendor advisory review.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.7 and 11.2.0 deployments.
  • Check IBM advisory for fixed releases, interim fixes, or supported workarounds.
  • Apply vendor-provided remediation using normal change-control procedures.
  • Limit Cognos web UI access to trusted networks until remediation is complete.
  • Review NetApp advisory if NetApp-managed environments include affected Cognos components.

Validation and detection

  • Verify installed Cognos Analytics versions against 11.1.7 and 11.2.0.
  • Confirm IBM remediation guidance has been reviewed and applied.
  • Check whether Cognos portals are internet-facing or broadly accessible.
  • Review application logs for unexpected content changes or suspicious session activity.
  • Document any compensating access restrictions still in place.
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-2021-20493 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/S:C/AC:L/A:N/PR:N/I:L/AV:N/C:L/RL:O/E:H/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
6.1CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:R/S:C/AC:L/A:N/PR:N/I:L/AV:N/C:L/RL:O/E:H/RC:C2.82.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.1Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20493Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/S:C/AC:L/A:N/PR:N/I:L/AV:N/C:L/RL:O/E:H/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 Analytics11.2.0, 11.1.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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