ZDI-10-018: IBM Cognos Server Backdoor Account Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-10-018
February 18, 2010

-- Affected Vendors:
IBM

-- Affected Products:
IBM Cognos

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TippingPoint IPS customers have been protected against this
vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 9494. 
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-- Vulnerability Details:
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute remote code on
vulnerable installations of IBM Cognos Server. Proper authentication is
not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists due to a hidden manager-level account with a
default password defined in the user configuration of the bundled Tomcat
server. This server can be reached via HTTP on TCP port 19300. A
malicious attacker can use this account to manage or deploy a servlet
onto the server. By abusing this ability a remote attacker can execute
arbitrary code under the context of the user running the Tomcat server.

-- Vendor Response:
IBM has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More
details can be found at:

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21419065

-- Disclosure Timeline:
2010-01-15 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
2010-02-18 - Coordinated public release of advisory

-- Credit:
This vulnerability was discovered by:
    * AbdulAziz Hariri of Insight Technologies

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