CVE-2025-14808: IBM InfoSphere Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-14808 Overview

IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 contains an information disclosure vulnerability that could allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information from the query string of an HTTP GET method. This vulnerability exposes sensitive data transmitted via URL parameters, which could be intercepted using man-in-the-middle (MITM) techniques.

Critical Impact

Sensitive information transmitted in HTTP GET request query strings may be exposed to attackers positioned to intercept network traffic, potentially leading to credential theft or unauthorized data access.

Affected Products

• IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6
• IBM AIX (as deployment platform)
• Linux Kernel (as deployment platform)
• Microsoft Windows (as deployment platform)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-25 - CVE-2025-14808 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14808

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-598: Use of GET Request Method With Sensitive Query Strings. The issue arises when IBM InfoSphere Information Server processes HTTP requests containing sensitive information in the query string of GET requests. According to secure coding practices, sensitive data should never be transmitted via URL parameters as they can be logged in browser history, server logs, proxy logs, and can be intercepted during transmission.

The vulnerability requires an attacker to be positioned on the network path between the client and server to perform a man-in-the-middle attack. While this attack complexity is high, successful exploitation could lead to disclosure of confidential information.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's design decision to transmit sensitive data via HTTP GET request query strings rather than using more secure methods such as POST request bodies with proper encryption. Query string parameters are inherently visible in URLs and can be captured through various means including browser history, server access logs, referrer headers, and network traffic interception.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to intercept traffic between the victim's browser and the IBM InfoSphere Information Server. An attacker positioned on the same network segment or controlling intermediate network infrastructure could capture HTTP requests and extract sensitive information from the query parameters. This is particularly concerning in environments where HTTPS is not enforced or where TLS termination occurs at load balancers, leaving internal traffic unencrypted.

The vulnerability can be exploited by intercepting network traffic and parsing the query strings of HTTP GET requests to extract sensitive parameters such as authentication tokens, session identifiers, or user credentials that may be improperly transmitted via URL parameters.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14808

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual network traffic patterns involving HTTP GET requests with sensitive data in query strings
• Evidence of ARP spoofing or other MITM positioning techniques on the network
• Suspicious access to server logs or proxy logs where query strings are recorded
• Unauthorized access attempts using credentials that may have been intercepted

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for unencrypted HTTP connections to InfoSphere Information Server instances
• Implement intrusion detection rules to identify potential MITM attack patterns
• Review web server and application logs for GET requests containing potentially sensitive parameters
• Deploy network security monitoring to detect ARP spoofing or DNS hijacking attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for all HTTP requests to InfoSphere Information Server
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of internal traffic
• Deploy SSL/TLS inspection at network boundaries to ensure encryption is enforced
• Monitor for anomalous authentication patterns that could indicate credential compromise

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14808

Immediate Actions Required

• Review IBM's security advisory and apply available patches immediately
• Enforce HTTPS/TLS for all connections to IBM InfoSphere Information Server
• Audit application configurations to identify any sensitive data being transmitted via GET parameters
• Implement network segmentation to reduce MITM attack surface

Patch Information

IBM has released security guidance for this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the IBM Support Article for detailed patch information and upgrade instructions. Organizations running IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 should prioritize applying the security update to remediate this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Enforce HTTPS for all client-server communications to encrypt query string data in transit
• Configure load balancers and reverse proxies to maintain TLS encryption for internal traffic
• Implement network access controls to limit potential MITM attack vectors
• Consider deploying additional network security controls such as 802.1X port authentication

# Configuration example - Enforce HTTPS redirection in Apache
# Add to httpd.conf or .htaccess
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

# Enable HSTS header
Header always set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains"