CVE-2025-13375: IBM CCA Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2025-13375 Overview

CVE-2025-13375 is a critical vulnerability in IBM Common Cryptographic Architecture (CCA) versions 7.5.52 and 8.4.82. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges on the affected system. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-250: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges]. Because CCA software supports hardware cryptographic modules used for key management, payment processing, and PKI operations, successful exploitation can compromise the cryptographic trust boundary of an enterprise.

Critical Impact
An unauthenticated network attacker can execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges, leading to full compromise of systems running vulnerable CCA versions and the cryptographic assets they protect.

Affected Products

IBM Common Cryptographic Architecture (CCA) 7.5.52
IBM Common Cryptographic Architecture (CCA) 8.4.82
Systems integrating IBM CCA with IBM cryptographic coprocessors (for example, IBM 4769/4770 series)

Discovery Timeline

2026-02-04 - CVE-2025-13375 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13375

Vulnerability Analysis

IBM CCA provides a cryptographic API for applications that rely on Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). The vulnerability permits an unauthenticated attacker reachable over the network to invoke functionality that runs with elevated privileges. According to the IBM advisory, the issue affects CCA 7.5.52 and 8.4.82. The attacker does not require valid credentials, user interaction, or local access to trigger command execution. Because CCA processes cryptographic operations on behalf of higher-trust services, command execution at this layer can expose key material, signing operations, and HSM-backed identities.

Root Cause

The weakness is mapped to [CWE-250], indicating that a CCA component executes operations with more privilege than required for its intended function. When such a component accepts attacker-influenced input without proper authorization checks, it provides a direct path to privileged command execution. The current EPSS score is 0.066%, placing it in the 20.4 percentile, but the scoring reflects historical exploit activity rather than the technical severity of the flaw.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and without authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends crafted requests to a network-reachable interface exposed by the vulnerable CCA installation. The privileged context of the affected component allows the attacker to execute commands beyond what the request itself should permit, breaking the privilege boundary expected for unauthenticated callers.

No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-13375. Refer to the IBM Security Advisory for technical specifics.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13375

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by IBM CCA service binaries or related daemons running as a privileged user.
Outbound network connections initiated by CCA processes to unfamiliar destinations.
New or modified files in CCA installation directories, particularly executables, scripts, or configuration files.
Authentication-bypass patterns in CCA logs, such as administrative actions without a preceding authenticated session.

Detection Strategies

Inventory all servers running IBM CCA 7.5.52 or 8.4.82 and confirm patch status against the IBM advisory.
Hunt for process lineage anomalies where CCA components launch shells, interpreters, or system utilities.
Correlate network telemetry with CCA process activity to surface unauthenticated remote callers issuing privileged operations.
Use behavioral identification tooling, such as the Singularity Platform, to flag privilege-escalation patterns originating from cryptographic service accounts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose audit logging for CCA management interfaces and forward logs to a central SIEM such as Singularity AI SIEM for retention and correlation.
Alert on any command execution by CCA service accounts that falls outside an established baseline.
Monitor HSM access logs for unusual key-usage spikes that may indicate post-exploitation abuse.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13375

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed CCA release identified in the IBM Security Advisory to all affected hosts.
Restrict network access to CCA management and service interfaces to trusted administrative networks only.
Rotate any cryptographic material whose confidentiality cannot be assured if a host showed signs of compromise.
Review privileged account activity on CCA hosts for the period since the affected versions were deployed.

Patch Information

IBM has published remediation guidance in the IBM Security Advisory for CCA. Administrators should upgrade beyond CCA 7.5.52 and 8.4.82 to the vendor-recommended fixed release. Confirm that both the host software and any associated HSM firmware are updated together, as IBM CCA updates frequently bundle coprocessor microcode.

Workarounds

Place CCA service endpoints behind a network access control list that only permits required administrative source addresses.
Disable or firewall any CCA network listeners that are not required for production workloads.
Enforce mutual TLS or VPN-based access for any remote CCA administration until patches are deployed.
Increase monitoring sensitivity on CCA hosts and isolate them in a dedicated network segment with strict egress filtering.

bash

# Example: restrict access to CCA service ports to a trusted admin subnet (Linux iptables)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 50003 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 50003 -j DROP