CVE-2021-20461Network attack vector

Authenticated appearance changes via authorization bypass

Published Jun 30, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Incorrect authorization in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 allows remote authenticated users to alter application appearance and behavior. The System Appearance setting permits configuration changes outside the account's intended authorization boundary; IBM has not disclosed the endpoint or failed check. A low-privileged session is required, and the documented consequence is limited to unauthorized appearance and behavior changes.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.95%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.0 and 11.1 allows remote authenticated users to alter application appearance and behavior. The System Appearance setting permits configuration changes outside the account's intended authorization boundary; IBM has not disclosed the endpoint or failed check. A low-privileged session is required, and the documented consequence is limited to unauthorized appearance and behavior changes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20461
Published
Jun 30, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
Cognos Analytics
Classifications
CWE-668
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 30, 2021CVE 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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=11.0
  2. Affected versionversion=11.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · Cognos Analyticsversion=11.0; version=11.1

Published CVSS scores

4.3IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-668Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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