CVE-2025-14753: IBM Cloud Pak for Data Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-14753 Overview

IBM Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the underlying system. An attacker can send a specially crafted URL containing ../ sequences to escape the intended directory and access files outside the web root. The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it exploitable over the network by any remote actor.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can read arbitrary files from the host, potentially exposing configuration data, credentials, and sensitive business information stored on the Cloud Pak for Data platform.

Affected Products

IBM Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2
Deployments using the affected ibm:cloud_pak_for_data component
Container-based installations exposing the vulnerable web interface

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-18 - CVE-2025-14753 published to NVD
2026-09-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14753

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw is classified as a path traversal weakness under CWE-22. IBM Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2 fails to properly sanitize user-supplied path segments in URL requests. An attacker can inject ../ sequences to traverse outside the intended directory boundary. The result is unauthorized read access to files on the underlying host or container filesystem.

Cloud Pak for Data hosts data science, analytics, and AI workloads. Files accessible through traversal may include Kubernetes configuration, service account tokens, database connection strings, and application logs. Exposure of these artifacts can enable follow-on attacks against connected data sources and orchestration infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The application concatenates untrusted input into filesystem paths without canonicalization or allowlist validation. When the path is resolved, ../ sequences move the reference outside the intended base directory. No authentication check gates the vulnerable endpoint.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires only network access to the Cloud Pak for Data web interface. An attacker crafts an HTTP request that includes encoded or plain ../ sequences in a vulnerable URL parameter or path component. The server processes the request and returns the contents of the targeted file. No credentials, tokens, or user interaction are required.

Description of exploitation: The attacker issues a GET request against a vulnerable endpoint with a payload similar to /vulnerable/path/../../../../etc/passwd. The server resolves the traversal and returns file contents in the HTTP response. Attackers typically iterate through common sensitive paths, including /etc/shadow, Kubernetes secrets under /var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/, and application configuration files. See the IBM Support Page for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14753

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP request logs containing ../, ..%2f, ..%5c, or double-encoded %252e%252e%252f sequences targeting Cloud Pak for Data endpoints
Unexpected 200 OK responses for requests referencing system files such as /etc/passwd or /proc/self/environ
Access log entries showing sequential enumeration of file paths from a single source IP
Outbound connections from Cloud Pak for Data pods following anomalous inbound requests

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that block URL-encoded and plain directory traversal patterns targeting the Cloud Pak for Data ingress
Enable request logging with full URI capture and alert on traversal signatures across ingress controllers and reverse proxies
Correlate ingress logs with pod-level file access telemetry to identify successful reads of sensitive files

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal URL patterns for the Cloud Pak for Data application and alert on deviations containing path traversal sequences
Monitor for reads of Kubernetes service account tokens, secrets volumes, and platform configuration files
Track source IPs generating high volumes of 404 responses followed by successful file retrievals

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14753

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the security update referenced in the IBM Support Page for Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2
Restrict network access to the Cloud Pak for Data web interface using network policies and ingress allowlists
Rotate credentials, API keys, and service account tokens that may have been exposed through the vulnerable interface
Audit access logs for traversal attempts dating back to deployment of version 5.1.2

Patch Information

IBM has published remediation guidance on the IBM Support Page. Administrators should review the advisory and apply the vendor-supplied fix for Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2. Container images and Helm charts should be updated to the patched release.

Workarounds

Place a web application firewall in front of Cloud Pak for Data and block requests containing ../, ..%2f, and double-encoded traversal payloads
Enforce strict ingress rules that limit access to the platform to authenticated internal networks only
Reduce the blast radius by ensuring the Cloud Pak for Data service account holds only minimum required filesystem and Kubernetes permissions

bash

# Example WAF rule pattern (ModSecurity syntax)
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx (\.\./|\.\.%2[fF]|%2[eE]%2[eE]/|\.\.\\)" \
    "id:1014753,phase:1,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2025-14753 path traversal attempt against Cloud Pak for Data'"