CVE-2020-4875Network attack vector

Sensitive information exposure via XML external entity processing

Published Jan 21, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

XML External Entity Injection in IBM Cognos Controller 10.4.0 through 10.4.2 allows remote attackers to expose sensitive information via XML data. The vulnerable XML-processing path accepts external entity declarations in supplied XML, causing the application to resolve attacker-selected entities. Exploitation requires access to the exposed XML interface and can disclose data or consume memory; no integrity impact is reported.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability1.73%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

XML External Entity Injection in IBM Cognos Controller 10.4.0 through 10.4.2 allows remote attackers to expose sensitive information via XML data. The vulnerable XML-processing path accepts external entity declarations in supplied XML, causing the application to resolve attacker-selected entities. Exploitation requires access to the exposed XML interface and can disclose data or consume memory; no integrity impact is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4875
Published
Jan 21, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Cognos Controller
Classifications
CWE-611, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.4.0
  2. Affected versionversion=10.4.1
  3. Affected versionversion=10.4.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Cognos Controllerversion=10.4.0; version=10.4.1; version=10.4.2

Published CVSS scores

6.4[email protected]AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P
8.2[email protected]CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo