CVE-2024-45084 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Cognos Controller versions 11.0.0 through 11.0.1 FP3 and 11.1.0. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1236, which pertains to improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files, commonly known as formula injection. This flaw arises due to insufficient validation of CSV file contents, allowing an authenticated attacker to inject malicious formulas into CSV files processed by the application. When these crafted CSV files are opened or processed, the embedded formulas can execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have authenticated access and some user interaction (e.g., opening or importing the malicious CSV), but the attack complexity is low due to the lack of additional access controls or complex exploitation steps. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.0 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as arbitrary command execution can lead to data breaches, system compromise, or denial of service. The vulnerability affects a critical financial consolidation and reporting tool widely used in enterprise environments, increasing the risk profile. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, but the potential for exploitation remains significant given the nature of the vulnerability and the widespread use of IBM Cognos Controller in financial departments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-45084 is substantial due to the critical role IBM Cognos Controller plays in financial reporting and consolidation. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive financial data, manipulation of financial reports, and disruption of financial operations. This could result in regulatory non-compliance, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences under GDPR and other financial regulations. The ability to execute arbitrary commands on systems hosting Cognos Controller also raises the risk of lateral movement within corporate networks, potentially compromising other critical systems. Given the interconnected nature of European financial institutions and multinational corporations, a successful attack could have cascading effects across subsidiaries and partners. The requirement for authentication limits exposure to internal or compromised users, but insider threats or compromised credentials remain a significant risk vector.

To mitigate CVE-2024-45084, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Immediately apply any available patches or updates from IBM once released, as no patch links are currently provided. 2) Restrict and monitor access to IBM Cognos Controller, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on CSV imports, including disabling or escaping formula execution in CSV files where possible. 4) Educate users and administrators about the risks of opening untrusted CSV files and enforce policies to verify file sources before import. 5) Employ network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 6) Monitor logs and system behavior for unusual activities indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected command executions or file modifications. 7) Consider using application-level controls or third-party tools that can detect and neutralize formula injection attempts in CSV files before processing.