CVE-2025-36131: IBM Db2 Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CVE-2025-36131 Overview

IBM disclosed CVE-2025-36131, an information disclosure vulnerability affecting IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows (including Db2 Connect Server). The clpplus command-line utility exposes user credentials to the terminal, allowing a third party with physical access to the system to obtain sensitive authentication material. The issue is tracked as CWE-359: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor. Exploitation requires local physical access, which limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk in shared workstation, kiosk, or laboratory environments where Db2 clients run.

Critical Impact
Credentials entered or displayed through the clpplus interface can be observed by anyone with physical proximity to the terminal, enabling account takeover and downstream database compromise.

Affected Products

IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows versions 11.1.0 through 11.1.4.7
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows versions 12.1.0 through 12.1.3 (including Db2 Connect Server)

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-07 - CVE-2025-36131 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-36131

Vulnerability Analysis

The clpplus utility is Db2's command-line processor for SQL and administrative tasks, modeled after Oracle's SQL*Plus. During interactive sessions, the tool renders user-supplied credentials to the terminal rather than masking or suppressing them. Anyone able to observe the screen, including through shoulder-surfing or recorded video, can capture the exposed values. The flaw does not require network access, authentication, or user interaction beyond normal use of the client. Impact is confined to confidentiality; integrity and availability of the database are not directly affected by this issue.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper handling of sensitive input and output within the clpplus client. Credential material is echoed or otherwise rendered visible in the terminal session instead of being redacted. This maps to CWE-359, which covers unintended exposure of private information to actors who should not have access to it.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires physical access to the console or terminal session where clpplus is executed. An adversary reads the credentials directly from the display or from persistent artifacts such as scrollback buffers, terminal recordings, or screenshots. No malware, network foothold, or elevated privileges are needed. Once captured, the credentials can be reused to authenticate to the Db2 instance and access any data the compromised account is authorized to read or modify.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this issue. Refer to the IBM Security Advisory for vendor-provided technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36131

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected clpplus sessions running on shared or unattended workstations where physical observation is plausible.
Terminal scrollback files, screen recordings, or session logs that contain plaintext Db2 usernames and passwords.
Authentication events for Db2 accounts originating from hosts or user contexts inconsistent with the credential owner's normal activity.

Detection Strategies

Audit endpoint file systems for terminal history files (for example .bash_history, PuTTY logs, script output) that captured clpplus credential material.
Correlate Db2 audit logs with workstation login telemetry to flag credential reuse from unexpected sources.
Review privileged account usage patterns for anomalous session times or origins that could indicate a captured credential is being replayed.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Db2 audit facility logging for authentication and authorization events tied to accounts commonly used through clpplus.
Track invocations of the clpplus binary on managed endpoints via process monitoring to identify unsanctioned or unattended sessions.
Alert on Db2 logins from workstations physically located in high-traffic, shared, or unsupervised environments.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36131

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed version referenced in the IBM Security Advisory for the deployed Db2 release stream (11.1, 11.5, or 12.1).
Rotate any Db2 credentials that were entered through clpplus on shared or physically accessible systems prior to patching.
Restrict physical access to workstations and servers where Db2 administrative tooling is run.

Patch Information

IBM has released fixes for the affected 11.1, 11.5, and 12.1 branches. Consult the IBM Security Advisory for exact fix pack versions, download locations, and upgrade guidance for Db2 Connect Server and Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows.

Workarounds

Avoid passing credentials interactively to clpplus; use connection identities configured through secured configuration files with restrictive permissions where supported.
Run clpplus only from private workstations or over encrypted remote sessions that are not exposed to third-party observation.
Clear terminal scrollback and delete session recordings after administrative use, and disable shell history for accounts that regularly invoke Db2 client tooling.

bash

# Example: disable persistent shell history for a Db2 admin session
unset HISTFILE
HISTSIZE=0
# Clear existing terminal scrollback before starting clpplus
clear && printf '\033[3J'
clpplus