# CVE-2021-20455: IBM Cognos Controller information disclosure

> Remote attackers can obtain sensitive information via detailed technical error messages in IBM Cognos Controller, aiding further attacks.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Jan 2025
- **Updated:** 7 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4mw2-5g8m-w232

## What is CVE-2021-20455?

CVE-2021-20455 is a low-severity vulnerability in Ibm Cognos Controller, published on 7 Jan 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Cognos Controller 11.0.0 through 11.0.1 and IBM Controller 11.1.0 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information when a detailed technical error message is returned in the browser. This information could be used in further attacks against the system.

Weakness: CWE-209 (Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20455?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Ibm Cognos Controller, Ibm Controller.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20455?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20455 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20455 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20455 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Cognos Controller

- [CVE-2024-28777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-28777/): IBM Cognos Controller code execution (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-52902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-52902/): IBM Cognos Controller information disclosure (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-47160](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47160/): IBM Cognos Controller XML external entity injection (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2024-40702](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40702/): IBM Cognos Controller improper certificate validation (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2024-45084](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45084/): IBM Cognos Controller CSV injection (high 8.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20455 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20455 is a low-severity vulnerability in Ibm Cognos Controller, published on 7 Jan 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20455 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ibm Cognos Controller. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20455/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20455/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20455
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20455
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20455

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20455/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.