CVE-2013-5444
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe server in IBM Cognos Express 9.0 before IFIX 2, 9.5 before IFIX 2, 10.1 before IFIX 2, and 10.2.1 before FP1 allows remote attackers to read encrypted credentials via unspecified vectors.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceIBM Cognos Express contains a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to read encrypted credentials from the server via unspecified vectors. This is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting versions 9.0, 9.5, 10.1, and 10.2.1 before their respective IFIX updates.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data= 9.0= 9.5= 10.1= 10.2.1CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Authentication
- None
- Confidentiality
- Partial
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
-
Identify installed IBM Cognos Express versionLocate the Cognos installation directory and find the version information file (typically version.txt, version.info, or check the Cognos Configuration tool). The version is also visible in the Cognos Administration console under System > System Overview.Affected if The installed version is 9.0, 9.5, 10.1, or 10.2.1 and no IFIX has been applied
-
Check if IFIX 2 is installed for versions 9.0, 9.5, and 10.1In the Cognos installation directory, look for an IFIX subdirectory or check the installed fixes via the Cognos Configuration tool under Security > Global Security > IBM Cognos services. Alternatively, review installation logs for references to IFIX 2.Affected if IFIX 2 is not present for versions 9.0, 9.5, or 10.1, leaving the credential disclosure flaw unpatched
-
Check if FP1 is installed for version 10.2.1In the Cognos installation directory, review the fix pack information via the Cognos Configuration tool or check the installed fixes documentation. Look for references to Fix Pack 1 (FP1) in installation logs or version details.Affected if Fix Pack 1 is not installed on version 10.2.1, indicating the vulnerability remains unpatched
-
Review access controls and network exposureSince the attack vector is remote and involves reading credentials from the server, verify that the Cognos server is not directly exposed to untrusted networks. Check firewall rules and Cognos Gateway configuration to assess external accessibility.Affected if The Cognos Express instance is accessible from untrusted networks without proper authentication barriers, increasing exploitability
You are affected if IBM Cognos Express version 9.0, 9.5, 10.1, or 10.2.1 is installed without the corresponding IFIX 2 or FP1 patch applied, and the server is network-accessible to potential attackers.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataApply the appropriate IBM IFIX (IFIX 2 for versions 9.0, 9.5, and 10.1; FP1 for version 10.2.1) to resolve the credential disclosure vulnerability.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA3.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $4,736.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2013-5444 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2013-5444 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.
A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.
- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data